Over 1,100 illegal cigarette packets seized in Felixstowe
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 13:32 · Archive
Trading standards officers and police seized more than 1,100 illegal cigarette packets and 119 tobacco pouches from two Felixstowe shops.
Trading standards officers, supported by Suffolk Constabulary and local Immigration Enforcement, seized 1,121 packets of cigarettes and 119 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco from two shops in Felixstowe on 15 October. The operation was part of Operation Machinize, an NCA-coordinated initiative targeting money laundering and the criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.
A sniffer dog named Milo helped uncover the tobacco, which was hidden using 'sophisticated concealment methods'. Suffolk Trading Standards said the seized products are suspected to be illegally imported into the UK without duty being paid and do not comply with legal packaging and labelling requirements. Several items are also suspected to be counterfeits of popular brands.
The seized items will be examined to determine the exact offences and what further action will be taken. Cases involving suspected breaches of track and trace rules will be referred to HMRC for investigation. This follows earlier enforcement activity in Felixstowe, where police found out-of-date food and drink and another sniffer dog named Leo uncovered nearly 700 illegal vapes in July.
How it is being reported
- More than 1,100 packets of illegal cigarettes seized in latest raid in townMore than 1,100 illegal cigarette packets and 119 tobacco pouches seized in Felixstowe shops during Operation Machinize on October 15.East Anglian Daily Times · 20 Oct, 13:07
- More than 1,100 packets of illegal cigarettes seized in latest raid in townMore than 1,100 illegal cigarette packets and 119 tobacco pouches seized in Felixstowe shops during Operation Machinize on October 15.Ipswich Star · 20 Oct, 13:07
In this story: Felixstowe · Suffolk Constabulary · Suffolk Trading Standards · NCA · HMRC
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