Smuggled and illegal tobacco and vapes are seized from town shops
OPERATION FINDS BUSINESSES ALSO SELLING DEVICES TO UNDER 18S
BAGS of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized from shops across Market Harborough.
In a joint operation between Leicestershire Police and Trading Standards, shops were tested as to whether they were breaching regulations over the sale of vapes, and whether they would sell vaping products to under 18s.
In the operation, bags of illegal and smuggled tobacco products and vapes were found and seized, and stores were found to have sold vapes to children.
Police and Trading Standards have not identified the shops, as evidence is being gathered and analysed before they decide to prosecute the shops for their rule breaks.
Market Harborough and Lutterworth Police shared two photographs of all the seized products in clear plastic bags along with uniforms for both police and Trading Standards.
Captioning the post, the police wrote: “Recent test purchasing operation on Harborough and Wigston policing area, working with Trading Standards, targeting premises selling illegal tobacco and vapes.”
Premises in Wigston also had a number of products seized in the operation, after the public reported concerns about the increasing number of children in the area using vapes.
Trading Standards said they intend to continue their crackdown on illegal vapes and tobacco, with the cheap products being a risk to children who can get addicted to nicotine.
They also issued concerns over legal regulations and the unknown ingredients they make contain.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Trading Standards said: “Those traders who sell illegal and smuggled tobacco products and vapes are seriously contributing to an unfair trading environment that affects our legitimate businesses and also brings criminality to our neighbourhoods. “Smuggled, illegal disposable vapes are relatively new products and those that Leicestershire Trading Standards seize are cheap, they are appealing to children who potentially are getting addicted to nicotine, they are not regulated, they do not comply with the legal requirements, and we do not know what substances they contain.
“Leicestershire Trading Standards, together with our partners in Leicestershire Police, will continue to carry out operations tackling the supply of illegal vapes and tobacco.”
They are seriously contributing to an unfair trading environment that affects our legitimate businesses