Massive Tobacco Raids Smash Illicit Sales in Kent
Kent’s toughest officers have hit back against the illegal tobacco trade with a series of targeted raids. Working hand-in-hand with HMRC, Kent Police, and local councils in Thanet and Folkestone, the crackdown seized tens of thousands of illicit smokes and vaping products.
Illegal Tobacco Trove Uncovered
The raids, part of the nationwide Operation CeCe, struck six retail premises. Supported by a specialist sniffer dog team, authorities uncovered hidden caches in five stores. The haul included:
- 30,540 illegal cigarette sticks
- 14kg of hand rolling tobacco
- 247 pots of shisha
- 79 illegal vapes
Officers found these were cleverly concealed behind sophisticated hides, revealed only with the aid of the detection dogs. They also discovered an electricity meter had been illegally bypassed and opened an investigation into potential immigration offences.
Officials Warn: Illicit Tobacco Fuels Crime
Clive Phillips, Operations Manager for Kent County Council Trading Standards, slammed the trade. “Illicit tobacco sales undermine local legitimate businesses and line the pockets of organised criminals,” he said. “We will use every tactic to disrupt these illegal activities and protect Kent residents and traders.”
PC Tristan Foster of Kent Police’s Thanet Community Policing Team added: “Illicit tobacco isn’t a victimless crime. Apart from serious health risks, it funds organised crime including terrorism and modern slavery through money laundering.”
Community Leaders Call for Public Help
Cllr Stuart Peall from Folkestone and Hythe District Council urged locals to stay vigilant. “We rely on the public to report illegal activity so we can keep our trading standards high.”
Cllr George Kup from Thanet District Council echoed this, saying, “Illegal tobacco harms communities, cheats legitimate businesses, and feeds criminal networks. These raids send a clear warning to unscrupulous sellers.”
National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin revealed the scale of the problem. “In just one year, Operation CeCe has removed 13 million illegal cigarettes and thousands of kilos of other tobacco products from UK streets.”
The public can anonymously report illegal tobacco sales via phone on 0300 999 6999 or online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
