Worksop: Trading Standards swoop on house being used to sell counterfeit cigarettes

Around 100 cigarette packs and 1kg of rolling tobacco were seized from the Worksop address, which the council has not identified due to legal reasons.

The products are believed to be a mixture of counterfeit cigarettes and ‘illicit whites’ that are meant for overseas markets and are illegal to sell in the UK.

Trading Standards officers carried out test purchases from both properties prior to the raids to confirm that the householders were selling illicit tobacco products.

Notts Police supported the action and two men have been arrested for questioning.

A task force was set up by the council in April to comat the problem of illicit cigarettes in Notts.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, chair of Notts County Council’s community safety committee, said: “The task force has so far concentrated on shops selling counterfeit cigarettes but we have widened the net by raiding these two houses in the county.”

“We want to send out a clear message that whether you are a shop keeper or a resident trading from your front door- we will not tolerate the sale of counterfeit cigarettes in the county.”

“Whilst the seizures from these homes are relatively small, we believe these householders have larger supplies elsewhere and we are investigating this further.”

Anyone with information about people selling counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes in their area should call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

People can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on telephone number 0800 555 111.

Or visit the Crimstoppers website online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.uk