MK City Council reveal seizure of thousands of pounds of illegal tobacco products and vapes

Milton Keynes City Council has seized more than £23,000 worth of illegal tobacco and vapes from two premises in Bletchley.

The operation led by Milton Keynes Trading Standards is part of a UK-wide initiative aiming to crack down on the sale of illegal tobacco products.

MK City Council revealed that they worked with Thames Valley Police, The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, HM Revenue and Customs, Immigration Enforcement, and the Department for Work and Pensions in their operation, with a specialist tobacco detection dog assisting officers in searching two premises on Queensway in the centre of Bletchley.

In total, officers seized:

• 24,000 illegal cigarettes worth around £22,000
• 43 packs of hand-rolling tobacco worth £1,800
• 356 illegal vapes

Cabinet Member for Regulatory Affairs, Cllr Mick Legg, said, “Illegal tobacco isn’t just a cheap alternative, it’s a serious threat to public health and can be linked to organised crime. This operation shows that we’re committed to working with partners to keep our communities safe and supporting honest businesses. My thanks go out to colleagues for this important work keeping everyone safe.”