Crackdown on fake vapes sees 68 shops shut down

Officers shut down 68 shops selling illegal vapes and cigarettes in Lincolnshire last year.

Lincolnshire County Council's trading standards team partnered with Lincolnshire Police to close businesses selling counterfeit stock.

More than 670,000 illicit cigarettes, 17,000 illegal vapes and 370kg of tobacco were confiscated as part of the crackdown.

Councillor Daniel McNally, executive member for trading standards, said: "There is absolutely no place for these illicit products on Lincolnshire's streets."

McNally added the authority will "continue to clamp down hard on the unscrupulous individuals who sell them".

Figures showed there was a 150% increase in illicit cigarettes compared with 2023, the council said.

Lincolnshire Police, which launched a campaign to stop the illegal sale of tobacco, said: "These illegal activities harm legitimate businesses and fund further crimes, often monopolising high street spaces, driving out lawful small businesses.

"The sale of illicit tobacco products isn't just a public health issue - Lincolnshire Police and partners are tackling these highly complex crimes head-on."

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