Officers from Halton Borough Council Trading Standards carried out targeted enforcement visits with Cheshire Constabulary and a Wagtail tobacco dog, to two Widnes shops, on Thursday 4 April.
The two traders, both known to Trading Standards for selling counterfeit tobacco and vapes to children, had a wake-up call when they were visited by the officers and specialist detection dog, Billy. Within minutes of starting a search of one of the premises, Billy had already uncovered the first of two concealed units hidden in a stairwell – used by the traders to hide the counterfeit tobacco. Then he identified a mirror in a bathroom, which was operated by a magnetic switch system.
At the other premises, Billy and the team identified a vehicle nearby being used to store the tobacco. Unfortunately for the criminals, they had more than £50,000 of counterfeit/illicit tobacco and illegal vapes seized, not to mention the van being used to store the tobacco was also seized.
With this case, Halton Trading Standards were particularly concerned that the traders were selling counterfeit tobacco to children and, as such, swiftly acted on the intelligence received. A spokesperson for the service confirmed: “We are increasingly seeing counterfeit and illicit tobacco being sold from retail premises which are used to facilitate the criminality.
“The unscrupulous traders target school children and will openly sell them tobacco and vapes, with no regard to their health. Which is why we would like to thank those residents who alerted us to these traders, and would strongly urge anyone with information relating to the sale of counterfeit/illicit tobacco, or vapes to children, to report it to Trading Standards. Your support is vital in helping us to remove these traders from Halton, and in helping to reduce the high level of smoking prevalence amongst children in the borough.”
Halton Trading Standards will continue to pro-actively target traders whether they sell via the high street, or online social media accounts like Facebook, with a clear warning that sellers will face criminal enforcement action when they are caught and they risk having their computers, mobile phones and even their vehicles seized. Furthermore, sellers should consider the impact a criminal conviction will have on their private lives – their employment prospects, their ability to get holiday visas and their reputation with their neighbours and community.
The spokesperson went on to add: “We have a duty to protect the health of residents in Halton and so it is important that we investigate and prosecute, when necessary, those involved in the supply of counterfeit/illicit tobacco, like these traders. The sale of counterfeit/illicit tobacco is a real concern, and more so when children are at risk of harm. The ongoing nature of this investigation sends a clear message to these criminals that Halton’s Trading Standards service will not let up if these individuals persist in peddling tobacco and vapes to the children of Halton.”
If you have any information involving the sale of counterfeit goods then you can report it, anonymously if you wish, via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
If you have any information specifically relating to the sale of illicit cigarettes or alcohol then you can telephone the Halton Trading Standards Hotline for Alcohol and Tobacco on 0151 511 8787. This is a reporting voicemail facility only and any information provided can be left anonymously, however, please provide enough information to identify those involved and if you want feedback your contact details too. Remember all other Trading Standards matters can be reported in the usual manner by contacting 0808 223 1133, as above.
