Barnet Council’s Trading Standards officers seized nearly £50,000 worth of illicit cigarettes, rolling tobacco, vapes and shisha during a single day’s worth of shop raids.
The team targeted seven stores, with a variety of ‘hides’ for their illicit produce – including one where a sophisticated hydraulic lift had been installed beneath the flooring. The device, operated by small remote control, contained a series of shelves, packed full of illicit cigarettes.
Another venue attempted to hide its illicit goods in a nearby car, but staff were caught out by undercover officers conducting test purchases.
The Trading Standards squad were aided by the Met Police and helpful sniffer dogs, Billy and Ziggy, springer spaniels, aged six.
Their total haul, across the seven stores, was made up of:
- 2,016 packets of cigarettes, made up of 40,320 individual cigarettes – worth £29,232.
- 210 pouches of hand rolling tobacco, weighing in at 10.5kg – worth £9,450.
- 895 illegal vapes – worth £8,950.
- 1.2kg of shisha tobacco – worth £50.
The total value of goods seized was £47,773 – and Trading Standards officers are already planning their next day of action.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council, said: “Our Trading Standards officers regularly conduct test purchases to ensure Barnet’s shops are trading fairly and not dealing in illegal or counterfeit goods.
“Barnet should be a safe place for everyone and traders should not be making a quick buck at residents’ expense.”
Barnet Council’s Trading Standards officers will be considering a full range of enforcement actions against the businesses it seized illicit products from during the raids on Friday 30 May. This includes – upon further investigation – the potential to prosecute, closure orders against problem premises, and more.
To avoid prosecution or closure orders, businesses are advised to only buy from legitimate sources and secure and keep a printed invoice or receipt for all purchases. Legitimate tobacco products such as cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco is in plain packaging. Vapes are now considered to be anything which is reusable – which includes those that are rechargeable, refillable and those with bits, such as the coils, that can be replaced.
ENDS
- Although all the products seized in the raids on Friday 30 May were illegal prior to Sunday 1 June, it should be noted that a new vapes law has been introduced from that date. Since then, it has been illegal for businesses to sell or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes. Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/single-use-vapes-ban