Police Seize Over £4.2m Illegal Tobacco, Vapes Across UK Towns

In recent coordinated operations across the UK, police and Trading Standards officers have seized large quantities of illegal cigarettes, tobacco, and vaping products worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. In Huddersfield, over £67,000 worth of illicit goods including cigarettes and vapes were confiscated from seven stores. A major raid in Stoke-on-Trent uncovered illegal tobacco and vapes valued at more than £600,000 stored in shipping containers, with investigations ongoing. In Dumfries, Police Scotland and Trading Standards seized illegal cigarettes and tobacco worth approximately £3.5 million during a multi-agency operation, resulting in three arrests and continued inquiries led by HMRC. Smaller-scale seizures were also made in Longridge and Leominster, where hundreds of counterfeit and illegal vaping products valued at £4,000 were confiscated. These efforts are part of wider campaigns like Operation CeCe Scotland, aimed at deterring the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco products to protect communities.