Trading standards crackdown on illegal trading

Published 22 November 2024

Officers from Wiltshire Council Trading Standards team, supported by Wiltshire Police, raided three businesses in Chippenham, Devizes and Melksham, on Thursday 21 November, suspected of selling illicit tobacco and vapes.

Illegal cigarettes, hand rolled tobacco and vape products were seized by officers who were responding to complaints to Trading Standards about the sale of illicit tobacco at these premises.

Councillor Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Public Protection said Wiltshire Council is dedicated to supporting communities and ensuring that the Wiltshire is a safe place to live. Unfortunately, businesses are sometimes tempted to sell non-compliant vapes and illegal tobacco products with little regard for the impact on their customers' health. Illegal tobacco not regulated or manufactured to the same standards as normal tobacco. It is often found to contain higher levels of harmful substances, as well as chemicals which are not normally permitted.

I'm very grateful for the hard work of the officers in this case, and my thanks also to Wiltshire Police for their assistance during the raid. This seizure sends a strong message to traders that we will not tolerate these sales in our community. I urge any residents concerned about illicit tobacco to report it to us for further investigation.

T/Chief Superintendent Doug Downing, head of Local Policing, said: We are determined to clamp down on businesses which put the public's health at risk by selling non-compliant tobacco and vapes.

The laws around them are there for a reason. We know there is a real risk that illicit vapes and tobacco, such as that seized in these raids, could contain dangerous levels of nicotine or chemicals you don't know you're inhaling.

We are grateful to Trading Standards for their work and collaboration on these raids and we will continue to work with our partners to keep the public safe.

Those found guilty of selling illicit tobacco, cigarettes vape products etc, can face penalties of up to £10,000, a seizure of any tobacco products, a removal of the right to sell tobacco, or a prison sentence. Trading standards are now preparing to prosecute the businesses.

If residents see any tobacco products or vapes being sold to people who they believe are under 18, or they believe a business is selling unregulated products, they can report this to Trading Standards at https://my.wiltshire.gov.uk/illicit-tobacco-or-cigarettes(opens new window)or by contacting the Citizen's Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

Topics:

• Trading standards news

Share this page

Print