Over five million illegal cigarettes seized from retail outlets in the first six months of the year

Over five million illegal cigarettes have been seized from retail outlets in the first six months of the year as part of a joint initiative to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.

The haul of illicit products also includes more than 1,700kg of hand rolled tobacco and 66kg of shisha.

In total, more than £2.7 million pounds worth of illegal tobacco products have been taken off streets across England and Wales since the operation launched in January 2021.

The illegal cigarettes were seized as part of Operation CeCe, a joint initiative between the National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Operation CeCe is part of a wider government strategy to disrupt every aspect of the illegal tobacco market, from front-line retailers to global Organised Crime Groups who drive the illicit trade, smuggling tobacco internationally on a grand scale.

The strategy includes tackling supply lines at source by shutting down illegal factories, intercepting smuggled product and cash at the border and disrupting those individuals selling the product in shops and markets. All of which is achieved through close collaboration with law enforcement and other partners.

https://www.wrexham.com/news/over-five-million-illegal-cigarettes-seized-from-retail-outlets-in-the-first-six-months-of-the-year-210310.html