Tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes seized

Tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and tobacco worth around £50k have been seized in raids by police and trading standards officers in Oldham.

Council workers, supported by Greater Manchester Police visited three shops in the town on Saturday, December 5.

Tobacco which was either suspected to be counterfeit or labelled not for the UK market was discovered at premises on Yorkshire Street, Park Road and Hollins Road

In total 31,600 cigarettes and 12.5kg of rolling tobacco was seized from the three shops by officers.

If sold, the haul was estimated to be worth around £50,000, according to town hall chiefs.

The council says that an investigation is now ongoing by Trading Standards in relation to those responsible.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and culture, said: “This is a good piece of work as the products should not have been on sale.

“We’d always encourage people not to smoke. But if you do buy counterfeit or illegal tobacco it can contain other products harmful to health.”

GMP Oldham tweeted that it was a ‘great example of Trading Standards and the police working together’.

Bosses warn that if the labelling on any tobacco purchased is incorrect then it is probably illegal.

The authority says that people can report suppliers who ‘break the law and place the public’s health at risk’ by contacting the illegal tobacco hotline on 0300 999 0000 or online at www.keep-it-out.co.uk

Main image:

Illegal cigarettes and tobacco discovered in shops in Oldham. Photo: Oldham Council/GMP.