New figures reveal more than 670,000 illicit cigarettes were removed from Lincolnshire’s streets last year, as the council steps up its war on rogue traders who put residents’ health at risk.
This represents a 150 per cent increase compared to the year before. On top of this, the report shows 17,000 illegal vapes were seized in 2024, along with 370kg of hand rolling tobacco.
68 shops selling the counterfeit products were served closure orders last year.
The huge leap in shop closures and seizure of goods is the result of effective joint working and intelligence sharing between Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards officers, Lincolnshire Police and other partners.
The report coincides with the launch of Operation Nivada, a public awareness campaign showing the fight against illegal tobacco and an underworld of associated criminal activity.
Be sure to follow Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire County Council’s Facebook pages for behind the scenes footage of shop raids and other eye-opening posts.
Cllr Daniel McNally, executive member for Trading Standards at Lincolnshire County Council, said:
“Trading Standards officers and partners protect residents by removing these illegal products and lead the charge against the selfish rogue traders who peddle them.
“Make no mistake – these items are unsafe. Not only can they contain harmful, unregulated substances that damage health, they have also caused fatal house fires in Lincolnshire, and threaten the livelihoods of legitimate, hard-working small business owners.
“There is absolutely no place for these illicit products on Lincolnshire’s streets. The criminals have been put on notice, we will continue to clamp down hard on the unscrupulous individuals who sell them.”
The council’s Trading Standards team deploys a variety of measures against the rogue traders. Staff conduct regular test purchasing and inspections, work with landlords to remove tenants, secure closure orders on premises and bring criminal cases before the courts.
If you have any information about the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes in Lincolnshire, you can report this through the Citizens Advice consumer service at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer or by calling 0808 223 1133.
The figures form part of a report that will be discussed by councillors at the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 25 February 2025.
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