West Sussex Trading Standards Snatch 6,000 Illegal Ciggies in Crackdown
West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Team has swooped on four shops in Worthing and Littlehampton, seizing over 6,000 illicit cigarettes. The haul also included 8.4kg of rolling tobacco and 64 pouches of shisha tobacco, with a street value topping £8,500.
National Team-Up Fights Tobacco Crime
This local raid was part of a nationwide push by National Trading Standards and HMRC to stamp out the illegal tobacco trade. Experts were on hand, including tobacco detection dogs from BWY Canine Ltd, who sniffed out the contraband both on premises and in vehicles linked to the shops.
Authorities Urge Public to Snitch on Illegal Tobacco Sellers
Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “This operation shows just how common illicit cigarettes and tobacco are in West Sussex. We urge anyone who suspects shops selling illegal tobacco to report it to Trading Standards immediately.”
He added, “It’s not just a law enforcement issue. Our Public Health teams see the damage illicit tobacco causes, especially because cheaper smokes make it easier to start, continue or relapse into smoking, which is harmful for all ages.”
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*Spending data from The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2022.
