Covert hiding places used to store illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Oct.31.2023

UK police and Trading Standards officials discovered over £100,000 worth of illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes in two shops in Dewsbury.

According to a report from Talkingretail, the police in West Yorkshire, UK, in collaboration with the Trading Standards Agency, recently carried out a joint operation where they conducted surprise raids on two shops in the town of Dewsbury. During these raids, they seized tobacco and e-cigarettes worth over £100,000. It was found that some of the confiscated e-cigarette liquid exceeded the legal limit of 2 milliliters for disposable e-cigarettes.

A search dog discovered secret concealed items in a hidden wall behind a bathroom mirror, which had the ability to slide up and down within its frame. Stuart Clarke, patrol captain of the Dusbury and Milford community police force, described the clever methods used to hide illegal products.

He mentioned, "Some shops hide tobacco in specially designed hiding places, evoking thoughts of James Bond-style secret devices." He further added, "In one case, the removal of a fake fuse on an electrical consumption panel revealed a secret storage cabinet filled with illegal tobacco.

References:

[1] Police stunned by ‘ingenious' hiding of illegal tobacco and vapes at raided Yorkshire stores

#E-cigarette #E-cigarettes and Tobacco #Illegal e-cigarettes #USA

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Al Fakher Parent Company Plans U.S. Listing in 2026 at $1.75 Billion Valuation

According to Bloomberg, Dubai-based hookah brand owner Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR) plans to go public on Nasdaq in the first half of 2026 through a merger with a Cantor Fitzgerald-backed SPAC. The deal values the combined company at USD 1.75 billion under the ticker “AIIR.”

Nov.11

WHO Chief Warns of E-Cigarette Threat to Youth as COP11 Opens in Geneva

More than 1,400 delegates from 162 Parties convened in Geneva on November 17 for the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the session with a stark warning: tobacco and nicotine companies are targeting schools as the “new front line” to recruit a generation of addicts through e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Nov.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Russian lawmakers propose total ban on e-cigarette sales, in response to Putin's call for protection of youth health

Russian Duma members propose nationwide ban on e-cigarette sales in response to Putin's call for youth health protection.

Nov.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Philip Morris Korea Extends IQOS ILUMA i Warranty to 18 Months, Says Move Will Boost Smoke-Free Product Growth

Philip Morris International’s Korea unit has extended the warranty for the “IQOS ILUMA i” heated tobacco series from 12 to 18 months, applying it retroactively to existing purchases, aiming to enhance user experience and market competitiveness.