Yesterday saw a joint team involving the Council, Avon and Somerset Police and HMRC use a specialist sniffer dog to raid a number of premises in Bath and seize illegal tobacco.
The operation was led by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team working with Avon & Somerset Police and HMRC.
7000 cigarettes and 6000g of tobacco were seized during raids on six business premises and two residential premises; illegal tobacco was found at all of them.
HMRC also seized a large quantity of illegal alcohol from one shop. No arrests were made but investigations are ongoing and individual cases will be followed up.
Cllr David Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a good result and sends out a clear message to criminals that we don’t want illegal tobacco in Bath & North East Somerset.
“Smoking is a serious public health issue and cheap illegal tobacco just makes it even harder to keep our children away from harm.
“This is a serious problem and one that Bath & North East Somerset Council is tackling on an ongoing basis. Illegal tobacco is often sold at pocket money prices that encourage young people to take up smoking and make it easier for people to stay hooked on tobacco.
“So removing it from the market is key to protecting residents’ health.”
This action was taken following intelligence received, including information from members of the public received at a roadshow in Bath in July.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with Smokefree South West on a campaign to increase awareness about illegal tobacco among the general public, encouraging fewer people to buy it and more people to report it.
Illegal tobacco is known to make it easier for children to start smoking, because it is sold at pocket money prices, meaning that young people could start smoking. Illegal tobacco is also known to make communities more attractive to criminals.
Selling illegal tobacco is a criminal offence.
Anyone wishing to report the selling of illegal tobacco can contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s trading standards on telephone 01225 396753 or email [email protected] or can report it anonymously online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
You can also call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They cannot trace your call and will never ask for your name.
