Latest news with #OperationCeCe
BBC News
06-08-2025
- BBC News
Walsall Trading Standards officers seize £1.4m worth of illegal vapes and fake goods
An estimated £1.4m worth of illegal vapes and counterfeit goods were seized in a West Midlands Trading Standards officers, along with specialist sniffer dogs, carried out the raid on two retail premises and a warehouse in the found over 9,000 illegal vapes and 1,200 items of fake clothing, as well as illegal cigarettes and tobacco. Walsall Trading Standards said that the raid is estimated to be the largest they have carried out. The items, which also included watches, footwear brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, have been taken to secure storage while investigations continue."This is a serious result and sends a clear message that Walsall will not tolerate illegal trading," said councillor Adam Hicken."These counterfeit and illegal products don't just threaten consumer safety, they damage legitimate local businesses and help fund organised crime," he raid was part of nationwide Operation CeCe, which is a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HMRC. Investigations into the case are ongoing. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Powys County Times
08-07-2025
- Powys County Times
Illegal vapes and cigarettes seized from Powys shop 'hides'
Police seized illegal cigarettes and vape products from "sophisticated hides" in three convenience stores across Powys in a multi-agency operation. An operation that targeted stores in Newtown, Welshpool, Llanymynech and Brecon saw illegal tobacco and vape products seized from three Powys shops on Wednesday, July 2. Police said sophisticated hides were found in the stores to conceal the illegal products, with some of them being operated by hidden electromagnets. Each was found to contain large amounts of suspected illegal cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and vapes, police added. One of the stores was also licensed to sell alcohol and the retailed has now been reported to the licensing authority for review. A person with no right to work in the UK was also found serving at a shop by the team. Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for Legal and Regulatory Services, said: 'This is a very good example of collaborative working across several services to protect the local economy. The sale of illicit tobacco is linked to the commission of fraud, money laundering offences and duty evasion. 'We want to keep our communities safe from these illicit activities so that legitimate local businesses are not undermined.' The operation, hosted by Powys County Council, was conducted to support the national initiative known as Operation CeCe, a collaboration between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and National Trading Standards to prevent the sale of illegal tobacco. The Operation CeCe Wales Regional Investigation Team, Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Dyfed Powys Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams also supported the operation.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Vapes, cigarettes and cars seized in Dorset shop raids
Tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized in raids on shops in shops were searched in Weymouth, Ferndown and Gillingham, with five found to have illicit HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) and trading standards officers, aided by a sniffer dog, also found shisha tobacco and controlled drugs during the two-day vehicles used to store contraband were seized by HMRC and will be scrapped or auctioned, Dorset Council said. Officers also searched storage locations and cars linked to the shops.A total of 17,000 individual cigarettes, 15.75 kg of hand rolling tobacco, 1,300 vapes, shisha tobacco, and 30 tubs of nicotine pouches were operation was part of a nationally funded illegal tobacco disruption campaign called Operation councillor in charge of community safety and regulatory services, Gill Taylor, said: "The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes not only harms the health of Dorset residents but undermines legitimate businesses. "These vital multi-agency operations are designed to disrupt and frustrate the supply of illegal products and we will continue working closely with our partners to disrupt these criminal networks." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal tobacco products seized during raids
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Devon and Somerset's streets as part of a major operation. Trading Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers visited 50 premises across the region during a week of action from 10 to 14 March. The crackdown - part of Operation CeCe - seized 127,371 illegal cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT), 4,490 illegal vapes and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha in the South West with a total value in the region of £186,000. TSSW said the haul included 20,580 cigarettes, 21.82kg (770 oz) of HRT and 266 illegal vapes with a value of £36,459 in the Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset Council areas. Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW, said the operation had been "successful" and disrupted criminals operating in the South West. "Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs," he said. "I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West." Other council areas where raids were carried out included Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TSSW said. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Illegal tobacco and vapes seized from shop Illegal vapes and cigarettes seized from shop Trading Standards South West Devon and Cornwall Police Avon and Somerset Police
BBC News
17-03-2025
- BBC News
Illegal tobacco products seized during South West raids
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Devon and Somerset's streets as part of a major Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers visited 50 premises across the region during a week of action from 10 to 14 crackdown - part of Operation CeCe - seized 127,371 illegal cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT), 4,490 illegal vapes and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha in the South West with a total value in the region of £186, said the haul included 20,580 cigarettes, 21.82kg (770 oz) of HRT and 266 illegal vapes with a value of £36,459 in the Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset Council areas. Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW, said the operation had been "successful" and disrupted criminals operating in the South West."Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs," he said."I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West."Other council areas where raids were carried out included Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TSSW said.
