Illegal cigarettes and vapes seized in Gloucester shop raid

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:32 · Archive

Trading Standards officers seized around 1,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, 160 pouches of tobacco and 100 vapes from a shop in Gloucester's Tredworth area.

Trading Standards officers, supported by Gloucestershire Constabulary, raided a shop in Gloucester's Tredworth area on 13 October following intelligence-led investigations into reports of illegal tobacco sales. A test purchase by officers confirmed that when illegal products were requested, a worker left the shop to collect them from a nearby location before returning to complete the sale.

During the operation, officers executed entry warrants at two nearby premises and inspected the shop. They seized approximately 1,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, 160 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco and 100 illegal vapes, along with approximately £1,000 in cash. Trading Standards estimates the products could have generated around £8,000 in sales had they remained on the market. Illegal tobacco can include counterfeit versions of well-known brands or products made specifically for the illicit market, and may not meet UK safety requirements or carry required health warnings.

Following the operation, Gloucestershire Constabulary issued a closure notice for the shop and applied for a closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. At a hearing on 14 October, magistrates granted a three-month closure order requiring the premises to remain closed until 13 January 2027. The Trading Standards investigation remains ongoing.

How it is being reported

• Illegal vapes and cigarettes seized from Gloucester shopMore than 1,000 packs of illegal cigarettes were seizedGloucestershire Live · 16 Oct, 06:00
• Thousands of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes seized in major raid at shopThousands of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes have been seized in a major raid.Wilts & Glos Standard · 15 Oct, 17:00

In this story: Gloucestershire County Council · Gloucestershire Constabulary · Trading Standards · Gloucester · Tredworth

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