Six businesses were raided by the authorities
What officers found during an operation to tackle illegal vapes and cigarettes(Image: Merseyside Police)
Authorities seized a incorrectly labelled bottle of Coca Cola during a crackdown on six Merseyside businesses. Roughly 10,500 illegal cigarettes were also seized in raids by the authorities.
On January 27, Merseyside Police alongside partners from Wirral Trading Standards, British Gas, Immigration Enforcement and a specialist detection dog team visited a number of premises in Liscard, Birkenhead, Pensby and West Kirby on the Wirral. The operation aimed to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco and vaping products.
Six businesses were visited as part of the raid where officers seized around 10,500 illegal cigarettes and several vape pods that were not in their original packaging or did not meet UK regulatory requirements. Additional vape products and food items were also removed after being found without the correct UK labelling and one business had their electricity immediately disconnected.
An incorrectly labelled bottle of Coca Cola was also found as part of the enforcement work.
Merseyside Police said the enforcement action would make a difference(Image: Merseyside Police)
This was after officers discovered an illegal abstraction of electricity. Wirral Sergeant Peter Hanson said: “Where there is no label and products are unregulated, customers cannot be sure what harmful substances and chemicals could be in the cigarettes and vapes.
“We simply will not allow offenders to risk the health of adults and young people in our communities by selling these products. Regular joint enforcement days like this are proven to make a difference.”
People are being urged to contact Trading Standards or police(Image: Merseyside Police)
Cllr Ann Ainsworth, vice-chair of the committee overseeing the trading standards service, said: “This is another example of the council working with the partner agencies such as the police to make a difference in the community – in this case using information and intelligence to target retailers operating illegally.
“Criminal activity has consequences for communities and affects the quality of life of residents. With things like illicit tobacco and vapes, sales of these undermine legitimate retailers, help fund wider criminal activity and, significantly, cause harm to people’s health.
“I would urge anyone with concerns about the sales of illegal tobacco and vaping products, including underage sales to children, to report their concerns to Trading Standards or the police – operations such as this demonstrate that it will be acted upon.”
Merseyside Police said vape shops “are becoming increasingly popular”(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Sgt Hanson added: “These convenience vape shops are becoming increasingly popular and, while some specialist vape retailers operate legitimately, others are breaching licensing conditions by selling illegal vapes, counterfeit cigarettes, and unregulated food and drink.
“We are particularly concerned about the increasing number of young people taking up vaping. These products must be properly regulated and clearly labelled in English, so consumers can make informed decisions and young people are not put at risk.”
Anyone with any information about crime in their area are being asked to call Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.