£40k worth of illegal products seized in Heckmondwike

Thursday, 23 March 2017 07:00

Earlier this month Trading Standards officers carried out raids on various locations in Heckmondwike as part of a joint operation with police and Revenue and Customs officials.

In total they discovered 36,000 cigarettes and 36kg of rolling tobacco – believed to be counterfeit – with an estimated street value of £40,000.Police also recovered a stun gun and CS gas which are illegally held weapons and could pose a serious danger to the public.

David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: “All tobacco is harmful, but the supply of illegal cigarettes seriously undermines the drive to reduce smoking, fuels organised criminality and is often a gateway for young people to becoming addicted to a habit which prematurely kills over half its users.”

The raid is the second counterfeit cigarette operation to be shut down in recent weeks. Earlier this month a man appeared in court after officers uncovered almost 20,000 illicit tobacco products at premises in Dewsbury.

Enquiries by Trading Standards and Revenue & Customs are currently ongoing.

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