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Herefordshire authorities net haul of 240,000 illegal cigarettes hidden in disposable barbecues (10 December 2016)
Date: 10/12/2016
Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards and West Mercia Police have uncovered a record haul of illegal tobacco in a joint operation.
The team acted on intelligence that the shops Supersam on Eign Street and Mila on Belmont Road, both in Hereford, were selling fake and smuggled cigarettes in their stores – leading to Trading Standards seizing two shipping containers worth of illegal tobacco.
The haul found 240,000 concealed cigarettes inside boxes of disposable barbecues.
At the request of West Mercia Police, an expedited licence review was considered by the council’s regulatory sub-committee on 29 November, where both alcohol licences were suspended, pending a full hearing on 15 December 2016.
Trading Standards service manager, David Hough, said:
“All tobacco is harmful but illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to start smoking and get hooked.
“Sellers rarely care who they sell to – fewer people are buying illegal tobacco and fewer people are now prepared to turn a blind eye to it.
“People can make a real difference to help keep more illegal tobacco off the streets by reporting it – we need to keep the pressure up on those who continue to sell it.”
Trading Standards say they are making further enquiries regarding the illegal tobacco, as the investigation continues.
Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers – Public Protection Offences
Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges involving selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors and breaches of health and safety regulations.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise on police raids and premises inspections by Trading Standards or local authority fraud teams.
For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.
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