Massive Raid Nets Nearly 143,000 Illegal Cigarettes in Horsham
West Sussex Trading Standards delivered a knockout blow to illegal tobacco traders this month. In a major Horsham raid, officers seized a staggering 142,700 cigarettes and 1,461 packets of hand-rolling tobacco. This haul nearly matches the entire amount confiscated across the whole 2023-24 fiscal year.
One Day’s Work Nearly Matches a Year’s Worth of Seizures
To put this into perspective, Trading Standards officers confiscated just 162,640 cigarettes and 414 tobacco packets during the whole of last year. As Cllr Duncan Crow, county council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, put it: “Trading Standards seized probably as much tobacco on that one day as we did in the whole of last year, which was a fantastic result by the team.”
Illegal Tobacco Harms the Most Vulnerable
Illegal cigarette and tobacco sales disproportionately affect the poorest communities. Over half of illicit tobacco smokers come from the most deprived socio-economic groups. Organised crime gangs exploit these vulnerable people, pushing fake, low-quality, and dangerous products while often coercing individuals to sell or distribute the tobacco on the streets.
Counterfeit tobacco carries serious health risks due to elevated levels of tar and nicotine. Trading Standards warns the public to steer clear of cheap, suspicious tobacco products.
Cracking Down on Crime and Money Laundering
West Sussex Trading Standards are not just stopping at confiscations. They’re now probing possible money laundering linked to illegal tobacco sales. Using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, they aim to strip criminals of the profits from this dirty trade.
This massive raid underscores Trading Standards’ relentless efforts to safeguard local communities and crush the illicit tobacco trade in West Sussex.
