Counterfeit tobacco has been found in a Newtown premises as part of an operation to stamp out the illegal trade, Powys County Council has said.
The council’s Trading Standards Service, working with Dyfed Powys Police and B.W.Y. Canine, visited a Newtown address last Friday after acting on intelligence and found a quantity of counterfeit tobacco that was concealed to prevent detection.
Cllr James Evans, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “Combating the supply of counterfeit and illegal tobacco is one of our ongoing priorities of our Trading Standards Service. There are fears that the trade in illegal tobacco could be funding organised crime both here in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.
“We are looking to increase the understanding of the impact it has on smokers and local communities when shadow activities occur with illicit products.
“Operations of this nature, should also serve as a warning to those involved in the supply and sale of illegal tobacco that we will take the appropriate action with partners that is necessary to combat this problem.”
Clive Jones, Powys County Council’s Professional Lead for Trading Standards, Community Safety and Emergency Planning, said: “This illegal trade harms legitimate traders in Powys and wider afield.
"Over the past two years we have seized nearly 60,000 illegal cigarettes and 60kg of illegal tobacco as part of our overarching operation on illicit products, named Operation Date. Investigations are ongoing.
“The supply of illegal tobacco bypasses government tobacco control measures, such as not selling tobacco to children and availability of illegal tobacco is increasing. This makes it more likely that youngsters will start smoking and we find that counterfeit products often contain high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium.
“Our surveillance on illegal activity involving counterfeit products of any variety is increasing and we ask users or any person offered suspected counterfeit goods to be vigilant and to warn us of any suspicious sellers through our contact points.
“This action would not have been possible without the support of Dyfed Powys Police and we wish to thank officers from operational policing team and intelligence units and support agencies such as BWY Canine.”
Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive Officer of ASH Wales, said: “We applaud the efforts of all those involved in operations of this nature and hope this sends a message to others that this activity will not be tolerated.
“Illegal tobacco currently makes up 15 per cent of all tobacco sales in Wales – the highest level in the UK – and continues to undermine efforts to tackle smoking prevalence. Criminals sell illegal tobacco at pocket money prices to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it, disregarding all tobacco control measures.
“It represents a major threat to the health of the nation greatly increasing the numbers of those at risk of developing smoking-related conditions, which currently contribute to 5,388 deaths and 26,489 hospital admissions a year in Wales.
“It is a crime that threatens lives across Wales and resources must be directed towards helping to stamp it out.
The council's Trading Standards Service can be contacted on 01686 617524. Alternatively email trading.standards@powys.gov.uk or visit www.powys.gov.uk/tradingstandards
