Thousands of pounds worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco have been seized during unannounced inspections of four premises across Liverpool on Sunday (28), stated recent reports.
Under the inspection operation carried out by Liverpool Council's Alcohol and Tobacco Unit along with a specially trained tobacco sniffer dog, 31,000 illicit cigarettes and 6kg worth of loose tobacco – worth in excess of £16,000 have been seized.
The haul consisted of foreign-labelled cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco.
The fake products were found hidden in concealed compartments by the sniffer dog in the Kensington, city centre and in the County ward. Rat and mouse droppings, along with other dead insects, have also been discovered in fake goods, said local reports.
Counterfeit cigarettes and non-duty paid/smuggled cigarettes have been found to contain higher levels of toxic components such as tar and nicotine which can put lives at risk.
Staff and management at the four premises will now be subject to a criminal investigation.
Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Abdul Qadir: “No cigarettes are good for you, but counterfeit cigarettes can contain even higher levels of cancer-causing toxins so we are doing as much as we can to ensure they aren’t sold in our city."
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