Some of the cigarettes and tobacco seized
Shropshire Council’s trading standards team seized over £36,000 worth of illicit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco in the past 12 months, latest figures show.
Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 trading standards officers spent numerous operational days searching shops suspected of selling illicit tobacco on high streets in the county.
Illegal products were frequently seized from concealments on or off the premises – in some cases from hidden compartments in back rooms or under counters which were identified by trained tobacco detection dogs, or were stored in vehicles in the vicinity of the shops.
These inspections, often conducted in partnership with local policing teams, resulted in 3172 packets of cigarettes and 986 packets of hand rolling tobacco being seized from retailers.
Some of the hidden cigarettes and tobacco
Five criminal prosecutions for the supply of illicit tobacco in Shropshire have concluded in the same period, resulting in the courts ordering guilty retailers to pay over £26,000 in fines, costs and surcharges. In addition, one shop owner was given a 12-week suspended custodial sentence and another was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Several more prosecutions have been initiated.
In addition, the trading standards team have successfully worked with premises landlords to facilitate the eviction of six businesses from premises found to be persistently selling illegal products.
Shops supplying illicit tobacco are often being run by organised crime gangs, which frequently also engage in other criminal activities such as money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working.
Some more of the hidden cigarettes and tobacco
Roger Evans, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said:
“The sale of Illicit tobacco is a criminal offence. It not only undermines legitimate businesses in the area, but the cheap prices also make it harder for people to quit smoking and facilitates young people to start doing so, harming public health. Our trading standards team will continue to work with our partners to take robust action against sellers of illegal goods in the area.”
Shropshire Council encourages individuals to contact the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline on 0808 2231133 if they have any suspicions that a business may be selling illicit tobacco products. Information can be given anonymously and will always be treated in line with the council’s information governance policies.
