Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized from Biddulph c-store

Thousands of cigarettes have been seized from multiple locations over the past few days as part of a crackdown on the supply of counterfeit goods.

Staffordshire police on Friday (25) stated that more than 5,000 cigarettes, 60 pouches of tobacco and some illegal vapes, all believed to be counterfeit, were found at the high street premises on Feb 15.

Officers from Staffordshire Police joined forces with Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards officers and Immigration Services to make an unannounced visit to a convenience store in Biddulph last week.

As per the police’s report, the goods were concealed behind false walls and stored away in hidden cupboards alongside a stash of illegal vapes.

During the operation, a man was also reported to Immigration Services. The shop in question has not been named.

Chief Inspector Mark Thorley, of Staffordshire Moorlands Neighbourhood Policing Team, said, “This is a significant amount of goods which have been seized and an investigation is underway.

“We take the supply of illegal cigarettes very seriously and we will pursue those who sell them."

Elsewhere in Islington, thousands of illegal cigarettes were discovered hidden in a shop till and a bread box in an off licence on Holloway Road.

As per local reports, 2,905 cigarettes and rolling tobacco were seized from Alands International Market. While investigators found 800 cigarettes in the till, about 1,800 more were found in a basket underneath the counter. The inspector also spotted another 145 cigarettes and 840g of hand-rolling tobacco in a bread bin.

Alands International Ltd is no longer trading and the business is now run by Mum Organic Limited. The licence for the premises was revoked by Islington’s licensing committee, reports said.