Over £130,000 of Illegal tobacco destroyed in Blackpool

A crackdown on more than £130,000 worth of counterfeit and smuggled tobacco has seen products seized and destroyed.

Blackpool Council’s Trading Standards team conducted an operation between February 2022 and February 2023 designed to target the sale and supply of illicit tobacco products.

As a result, huge quantities of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco were taken off the market and have now been destroyed with the help of ENVECO – Blackpool Council’s Waste management service.

This operation took place as part of Operation CeCe, a National Trading Standards scheme in partnership with HMRC to tackle illegal tobacco sales.

With the support of this national initiative, the council’s Trading Standards team have increased the number and frequency of visits that they have been able to carry out with retailers in the Blackpool area.

he use of illegal tobacco can have serious health consequences for the consumer. Tobacco seized that has been sent for analysis has been found to contain in some instances, glass as well as rat droppings.

An additional safety issue is that illegally manufactured cigarettes do not self-extinguish as legal cigarettes do, and can be a serious concern as such cigarettes have contributed towards house fires nationwide.

Cllr Paula Burdess, Blackpool Council cabinet member for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “Not only is it illegal but there is also a high risk of these tobacco products causing serious harm to the health of residents and visitors.

“I am delighted at the success of this targeted operation as it sends out a clear message of zero tolerance, and we will continue to disrupt the sale of these products.

“Appropriate enforcement action will be taken against anyone involved in the sale and supply of illicit tobacco products.”