Suspected counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco seized from Maidenhead stores

Trading Standards officers discovered 10 packets of cigarettes suspected of being counterfeit during an inspection at retailers in Maidenhead last week.

As per local reports, Trading Standards officers have discovered 10 packets of cigarettes suspected of being counterfeit during an inspection in Maidenhead.

Apart from 10 packets of cigarettes and seven pouches of rolling tobacco suspected of being counterfeit, officers also seized 40 packets of chewing tobacco which failed to comply with labelling regulations.

The visits were carried out last week at retailers in Maidenhead as part of Operation Cece which is National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs initiative to tackle the illegal tobacco trade. The team were assisted by sniffer dog Cooper- who is able to detect tobacco located in hidden places.

The seized items will now undergo expert examination to establish their counterfeit status.

Trading Standards is continuing enquiries with the businesses concerned, with a view to taking enforcement action and, if possible, identifying their suppliers.

“This operation was about protecting the local community from harm. The sale of cheap, illegal tobacco brings criminals into our neighborhoods and it creates an unfair trading environment for our law-abiding businesses,” reports quoted councilor David Cannon, cabinet member for public protection, as saying.

“Tell-tale signs that tobacco products are counterfeit include failing to include the required warnings showing the health risks associated with smoking, such as packets with no picture warnings, and the low cost compared to normal cigarettes

“Having an asset like sniffer dog Cooper is a valuable resource enabling us to crack down on their sale. It is one we will continue to use going forward to give us the best possible chance of seizing and, ultimately, preventing these items from reaching consumers.”

In other news, a Herefordshire shop has been caught selling counterfeit cigarettes – on three separate occasions.

Herefordshire Trading Standards officers made three visits since August to Ledbury Mini Market, a grocery store in the town’s New Street specialising in central and eastern European products.

Each time the cigarettes bought were found to be illegal imports, said local reports, adding that two of the purchases were made from the owner, Mohammed Amin Aziz, the other from an employee, Izabelle Buczel.

Each of the six packets bought over the two-month period was sold at £5.50.

Trading Standards officers are now pushing for the shop’s premises licence to be revoked – a decision which will be made by a forthcoming licensing subcommittee.