Crackdown on gangs trading illegal cigarettes, vapes and tobacco in Peterborough

Organised crime gangs have been blamed following the seizure of nearly 60,000 illegal cigarettes, 1,767 vapes and 4.35 kilos of hand rolling tobacco cigarettes from Peterborough shops. Peterborough City Council says enforcement sanctions will be imposed on all the shops “including the commencement of two criminal prosecutions and a closure order”.

Jacqui Harvey, head of operations for Peterborough City Council’s regulatory services said: “These ongoing, targeted enforcement operations send a clear message to the organised crime gangs that the sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products won’t be tolerated in Peterborough.

“We are committed to taking a hard line with anyone we uncover perpetrating these crimes.”

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The first of two multi agency operations since the start of the year resulted in seizures being made at three shops in the city, which uncovered 954 vapes, 3.85 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and 19,520 cigarettes.

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The second operation revisited one shop that had only the week before had had all its illegal stock seized and sniffer dogs uncovered a further secret hide containing a further 20,000 illegal cigarettes.

Across all shops raided that day, a further 813 vapes, 0.5 kilos hand rolling tobacco and 38,540 illegal cigarettes were seized.

The crackdown is part of Operation Sustainable which is a police led, multi-agency initiative; the enforcement was led by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards, and was run in conjunction with the Cambridgeshire police, Peterborough City Council environmental health team and HMRC.

In the second operation seizures were made at three shops in the city, where teams uncovered a total of 954 vapes, 3.85 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and a further 19,520 cigarettes.

Two multi-agency operations have been carried out across Peterborough recently to crack down on illegal vapes and tobacco, resulting in the seizure of 1,767 vapes, 4.35 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and 58,060 cigarettes

In the past 12 months, Trading Standards has seized nearly 10,000 illegal vapes, 18 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and more than 250,000 illegal cigarettes in Peterborough.

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Issues include vapes with tank sizes that are illegal in the UK due to the quantities of liquid they contain, vapes that wrongly state they contain no nicotine, cigarettes in packaging that does not comply with UK requirements on labelling and imagery, and non-duty paid hand rolling tobacco.

Jacqui Harvey said: “The level of Intelligence we receive from the public is also indicative of local feeling towards these crimes. They don’t want these crimes being committed in their local communities, and we will continue to tackle it on their behalf.

“If you would like to share intelligence or even suspicions on any such criminal activity, you can report it online, anonymous if you wish at www.keep-it-out.co.uk

“The website also contains extensive information on how to spot illegal tobacco and nicotine products.

“Alternatively, if you’d rather speak to someone, you can contact Trading Standard’s advice partner, the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, on 0808 223 1133 Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, remaining anonymous if you wish.”

Inspector Lyndsay Mylchreest of Peterborough Police said: “This work has been a multi-agency approach to improving the Millfield area, including tackling organised crime, and associated anti-social behaviour, developing the environment and infrastructure, and creating opportunities for the community.

“Many agencies in the area have made a commitment to come together to tackle issues raised by the community and make it a better place for all those who live and work in the area, of which this piece of work is just one example of that commitment.”