In preparation for the upcoming ban on disposable vapes in June, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Trading Standards Team recently conducted targeted enforcement operations across the borough in coordination with other Councils as part of a London-wide crackdown.
As part of Operation Joseph (for vapes) and Operation CeCe (for tobacco), officers carried out 44 test purchases in the week commencing Monday 24 March. Of these 44 shops where test purchases happened, 11 (25%) sold illicit tobacco to our test purchaser/s.
The shops who failed the test purchase exercise were subsequently subjected to a full inspection on Wednesday 26 March. The inspecting officers were supported by a tobacco and vape detection sniffer dog. As a result, thousands of illicit cigarettes and vapes were uncovered, including some found in concealed storage areas used by the businesses to stash illegal products. The full list of products seized by officers, from just four premises, included:
- 16,200 illicit cigarettes (including brands such as Kent, Dunhill, Marlboro, Sobranie, Platinum, Benson & Hedges, and Top Gun)
- 39 packs of illicit hand-rolling tobacco (Amber Leaf)
- 125 oversized vapes
The seized items had an estimated retail value of £11,766.
The Trading Standards Team will now actively consider strong enforcement action against the offending businesses, with options including license reviews, closure orders, and/or prosecution in court.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “The availability of cheap and illicit tobacco discourages residents from attempting to quit smoking and supports organised crime networks involved in people trafficking and modern-day slavery. By tackling these illegal sales, we’re protecting public health and disrupting criminal activity.”
If residents have concerns about a shop possibly selling illicit tobacco or vapes in Barking and Dagenham, they should contact: tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.