West Sussex Trading Standards Busts 6,000+ Illegal Cigarettes in Crackdown
West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Team has cracked down hard, seizing over 6,000 illicit cigarettes from four shops in Worthing and Littlehampton.
The swoop also uncovered 8.4kg of rolling tobacco and 64 pouches of shisha tobacco. The haul is worth a whopping £8,500 on the streets.
National Operation Hits Illegal Tobacco Trade
This local blitz was part of a national effort between National Trading Standards and HMRC targeting the booming illegal tobacco market.
Tobacco detection dogs from BWY Canine Ltd helped sniff out the dodgy goods, finding stash in shops and vehicles linked to them.
Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “The partnership between Trading Standards and BWY Canine Ltd shows just how common illicit cigarettes are in West Sussex. We urge anyone who suspects illegal sales to report it to Trading Standards immediately.”
“This isn’t just a police matter. Public Health teams see the damage illicit tobacco causes, especially since cheaper illicit products make it easier to start or continue smoking, harming health across all ages.”
“If you want to quit this Stoptober but don’t know where to start, free help is available on the 123 and take control this Stoptober.
