MORE than 115,000 counterfeit or smuggled cigarettes have been seized over the past year, in a crackdown on illegal tobacco across the city.
Trading standards officers have been carrying out regular raids on shops and car boot sales in Coventry, as part of a concerted effort to stamp out sources of illegal tobacco.
In the past month, raids have uncovered around 37,000 illegal cigarettes, as well as 400 packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and 150 sachets of fruit tobacco – which is often smoked in Shisha pipes.
Officers have also unearthed stashes of illegal tobacco hidden underneath floorboards, behind mirrors, and even in adjacent premises where a person passes the tobacco through a small hole in the wall.
Hamish Simmonds, manager of the city council’s Trading Standards office, said: “Despite fraudsters attempting to become more creative in their attempts to conceal their activities, we are achieving significant rates of detection.
“Those tempted to make a quick buck are warned the penalties for supplying such items are severe, and can include up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
Trading Standards said that tell-tale signs tobacco is counterfeit include: an unusual taste, a cheaper price, poor quality printing on the packets, and the absence of health warnings.
They also said that many products found often contain dangerously high levels of poisonous ingredients – such as six times the amount of lead, and three times the amount of arsenic found in ordinary cigarettes.
Councillor Joseph Clifford, chairman of Coventry’s Smokefree Alliance, said: “It’s important to remember that it’s not just illicit tobacco which can endanger your health – there is no such thing as a safe cigarette.
“If you want help to quit, you can locate your nearest Stop Smoking Service by calling 0800 051 1310.”
Anyone with information about where counterfeit cigarettes or tobacco may be being sold, should contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
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