New figures reveal more than 670,000 illicit cigarettes were removed from Lincolnshire’s streets last year, as the council steps up its war on rogue traders who put residents’ health at risk.
It’s a 150 per cent increase compared to the year before says the report, which shows shows 17,000 illegal vapes were seized, along with 370kg of hand rolling tobacco, and 68 shops selling the counterfeit products were served closure orders last year.
The huge leap in shop closures and seizure of goods is said to be the result of effective joint working and intelligence sharing between Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards officers, Lincolnshire Police and other partners.
The report coincides with the launch of Operation Nivada, a public awareness campaign showing the fight against illegal tobacco and an underworld of associated criminal activity.
Cllr Daniel McNally, executive member for Trading Standards at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Trading Standards officers and partners protect residents by removing these illegal products and lead the charge against the selfish rogue traders who peddle them.
“Make no mistake – these items are unsafe. Not only can they contain harmful, unregulated substances that damage health, they have also caused fatal house fires in Lincolnshire, and threaten the livelihoods of legitimate, hard-working small business owners.
“There is absolutely no place for these illicit products on Lincolnshire’s streets. The criminals have been put on notice, we will continue to clamp down hard on the unscrupulous individuals who sell them.”
The council’s Trading Standards team deploys a variety of measures against the rogue traders. Staff conduct regular test purchasing and inspections, work with landlords to remove tenants, secure closure orders on premises and bring criminal cases before the courts.
