Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized from shop

Thousands of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes have been seized from a shop following a council investigation.

Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards team's raid netted 7,740 cigarettes, 5.85kg (12.8 lbs) of chewing tobacco, 4.2kg (9.2 lbs) of waterpipe tobacco, 800g (1.7 lbs) of hand rolling tobacco, and 77 unit packs of nicotine pouches, the majority of which were hidden above a ceiling tile in a shop on Cowley Road, Oxford.

The authority said the total street value of the haul was approximately £5,000.

The action was part of the national HM Revenue & Customs and Trading Standards initiative to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products, Operation CeCe.

Jody Kerman, the council's head of prevention, protection and trading standards, said the seizure "was spotted by one of our eagle-eyed officers, who are highly trained in identifying the telltale signs of these concealments".

"My message to those who continue to sell illegal tobacco: expect us."

Lib Dem's Jenny Hannaby, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said the operation "sends a clear message that we will not tolerate illegal tobacco in Oxfordshire".

The council said an investigation has been launched and shop cannot be named while that is ongoing.

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