Over £52,000 worth of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, cigarettes and vapes have been seized across Bournemouth and Poole.
BCP Council’s Trading Standards team worked with Dorset Police and HM Revenue and Customs in the operation.
Eight individual commercial premises were targeted with the illicit items found in bags, cardboard boxes, cabinets and vehicles with the help of specialist detection dogs.
The money made from the sale of cheap, illegal tobacco products and vapes is often used by organised criminal gangs to finance other illegal activities, such as modern day slavery, drug and people trafficking.
Although enforcement action takes place across the BCP area on a consistent basis, this specific operation formed part of a larger, nationally funded illegal tobacco disruption operation, labelled Operation CeCe.
In total, 1,380 vapes, 19.45 kg of hand-rolling tobacco, 30,281 tobacco sticks, 22.5 kg of shisha and 18 packs of cigars were seized.
Cllr Kieron Wilson, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes not only harms legitimate businesses but also poses significant health risks, particularly to young people.
“This successful operation, in partnership with Dorset Police and HMRC, demonstrates our commitment to tackling illegal trade, and we will continue to take strong enforcement action against those who break the law and put our communities at risk.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their work, both day-to-day and as part of Operation CeCe, to help keep Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole safe.”
One year ago, similar collaborative work resulted in the confiscation of 18.7kg of hand-rolling tobacco, 89,600 cigarettes, 5,165 vapes and 10.35kg of shisha from premises in Bournemouth town centre, Wallisdown and Winton, worth a record-breaking £208,000.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Positive action like this highlights the value of partnership working in protecting our communities in Dorset.
“Illegal vapes and tobacco are not harmless products; vapes can be contaminated with illegal drugs and cause significant issues, particularly for young people. That’s why it is vital we do all we can to stop the businesses which are selling these items and prevent them being purchased by the public.
“My thanks go to all involved for their continued work in helping to keep the people of Dorset safe.”
Darren Harris, Chief Inspector of the BCP Local Policing Areas (LPA), said: “We will continue to work in collaboration with our partners at BCP Council to target business premises which trade in the unlawful selling of illegal vape and tobacco products.
“We will do all we can to protect those within our communities – notably young people – who purchase these products without necessarily being fully aware of just how harmful they can be.
“Our recent engagement with Trading Standards during this regional week of action demonstrates our officers’ commitment to multi-agency working as we continue to relentlessly pursue those who offer these prohibited products for sale in our communities.”
Sales of illegal tobacco and/or vapes can be reported anonymously to the Trading Standards South West team at www.tssw.org.uk/report-it or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer advice line on 0808 223 1133.