The operation in Leeds and Kirklees on Monday involved West Yorkshire Trading Standards, West Yorkshire Police, HMRC and tobacco detection dogs.

It targeted dealers of cheap and illicit tobacco and as well as the counterfeit cigarettes 68kg of Hand Rolling Tobacco was seized.

It is thought the counterfeit tobacco would have caused a loss of duty to the Exchequer of around £700,000.

A quantity of cash was also seized, believed to be the proceeds of crime, from the sales of illicit tobacco.1 

A total of 9 premises were visited across West Yorkshire, which Trading Standards and Police say “resulted in the disruption of serious criminality.”

A statement from Trading Standards added: “This is the largest seizure across West Yorkshire since the Illicit Tobacco initiative began 12 years ago.

“The Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme, funded by the five Public Health departments of West Yorkshire, is helping people to stop tobacco use for good by educating communities and by investigating traders who supply cheap and illicit tobacco.

“The initiative uses multi-agency enforcement and community marketing campaigns to tackle the problems of the illicit trade.

“Illicit tobacco often costs less than half the tax-paid price of legally sold tobacco. This maintains smokers in their habit and encourages young people to start smoking. Illegal tobacco trading creates a cheap source for children and young people to start smoking, severely impacting genuine businesses by undercutting them. It is also linked to organised crime, contributing to an underground economy worth billions of pounds. Victims of human trafficking are sometimes being forced to sell these illegal products in order to pay off debts they may have or even fearing harm to themselves or their families.”  

Linda Davis, Head of Trading Standards, Protecting Communities, said “Far from being a victimless crime, the illegal trade in tobacco helps to fund organised criminality, makes it easier for children to start smoking, and costs the government millions each year in lost revenue.” 

Reports of illegal cigarette sales can be made to West Yorkshire Police via 101, online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat or anonymously to the independent Crime Stoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or online webchat.

To report a trader selling cheap and illicit tobacco, people can also contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133 anonymously.