Police seize illegal cigarettes and vapes in raids on Hull shops

Police and Trading Standards seized illegal cigarettes and vapes during raids on shops in Hull. The illegal devices and counterfeit tobacco were discovered after warrants were executed at two shops on Inglemire Lane and Beverley Road.

Officers also found a quantity of class B drugs and “illegal contraband” in a vehicle at the Beverley Road site. The items were all found during a joint operation between Humberside Police’s North Hull Neighbourhood Policing Team and Trading Standards on Wednesday morning (August 28). Police said the two warrants were not linked.

Illegal vapes can be those with tank sizes that are banned in the UK due to the amount of liquid they hold. Others falsely claim to be nicotine free.

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North Hull Neighbourhood Officer, PC Jamie McMahon said: “This latest seizure of counterfeit and illegal tobacco products shows that we will use every avenue possible to disrupt those involved in this type of crime. Working with Trading Standards on operations like this has been known to fund organised crime groups, with links to modern slavery, human trafficking and even criminal child and sexual exploitation.

“When you buy these products, you could also be putting your own health at risk. Not only have they not been taxed, they have not been tested to ensure they are safe, and many counterfeit tobacco products often contain a range of harmful substances.

“These are not victimless crimes and agencies will continue to support each other to act on information provided by local residents and communities. If you have information about counterfeit goods in your area, please contact us on our non-emergency number 101 and help us make our communities safer for everyone.”

You can also report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website www.crimestoppers.org.uk.