"Hounslow Council's Trading Standards seized more than 33,000 worth of illegal products in September, including a total of 4,859 illegal vapes and 3,806 illegal cigarettes. An officer present on these raids told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that one shopkeeper was caught on CCTV throwing his stock of illicit products on to the roof of an outbuilding, after being warned that raids were taking place. Council officers also said that illegal vapes and tobacco were being sold in barbers, restaurants and even carpet shops, as well as off-licences."
"Hounslow Council worked with Metropolitan Police to conduct raids at 16 premises in Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow High Street on 23 and 24 September. The vapes seized during these raids had a total market value of 30,000, and either exceeded the legal tank size and nicotine strength limits, or were illegal for sale in the UK, such as disposable vapes, the council said. Trading standards officers also seized 16kg (2st 7lb) of shisha and 11kg (1st 11lb) of chewing tobacco."
"These raids were part of Operation CeCe, a national operation launched by Trading Standards and His Majesty's Revenue and Customs which seized 1.19m illegal vapes in 2023-24. This was before the ban on disposable vapes came into effect on 1 June. Meanwhile, Hounslow Council said it seized more than 400,000 worth of illegal tobacco in 2024, and had seized a further 100,000 worth since April. The council said that unregulated products could contain dangerous levels of tar and nicotine, and in some cases have contained arsenic and lead."
Trading Standards and Metropolitan Police conducted raids at 16 premises across Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow High Street, seizing thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes. September seizures included 4,859 illegal vapes and 3,806 illegal cigarettes, with vapes valued at 30,000 and tobacco seizures totalling significant sums in 2024. Confiscated vapes often exceeded legal tank size or nicotine limits or were banned disposables. Officers found illicit products sold in barbers, restaurants and carpet shops as well as off-licences, with unregulated items potentially containing high tar, nicotine and traces of arsenic and lead. Raids formed part of national Operation CeCe.
Read at www.bbc.com
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