Trading standards officers have seized illegal tobacco products during raids on a shop in North Shields and residential address in Howdon.
The tenants of the Ali Baba shop, on Nile Street, North Shields, have been ordered to close for three months after the tobacco was discovered at the premises by Trading Standards Officers of North Tyneside Council.
The council was granted a three-month closure order by North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court after officers found fake cigarettes on the premises, and in vehicles parked nearby, on five occasions. It was the first time the council has used a closure order to tackle the supply of illicit tobacco.
As part of a separate investigation, Northumbria Police executed a warrant backed by Trading Standards officers, at a property in the Howdon area. Trading Standards seized 50,000 illicit cigarettes and 540 pouches of hand rolling tobacco with a combined value of approximately £50,000. The investigation is ongoing.
Councillor Carole Burdis, Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety said:
“The supply of illicit tobacco has a detrimental effect to local communities. Half of all long-term smokers will die from a smoking-related disease, so we need to make sure that children and young people are not attracted to or get hooked on tobacco.
The trade in illicit tobacco doesn’t care whether children and young people suffer from the social, health or economic effects smoking causes.
“Illicit cheap tobacco undermines price as one of the key drivers to bring down smoking rates, honest businesses cannot compete with illegal tobacco sellers and attracts criminality to neighbourhoods.”
Inspector Jennifer Scott, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a fantastic result and we are pleased to have helped take these illegal goods off the streets.
“Some people may think the selling of counterfeit goods is a victimless crime, but quite often it can be a product of organised crime.
“Groups can supply them into the region with the intention of making money, which enables them to continue to fund illicit activities.
“This joint operation with North Tyneside Council reinforces our commitment to tackling this type of crime across our communities.”
The council hopes that the action will send a message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated in the borough and has pledged to crack down on any business or individual involved. Enforcement action will be taken including the further use of Closure Orders.
If you are aware of any ongoing sale or supply of illicit and counterfeit tobacco products, you can report it anonymously via the Keep-It-Out website at
https://keep-it-out.co.uk/anonymous-reporting/