United Kingdom | About £212,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized in Preston, Lancashire

Key points

• Joint enforcement: The Prosper Partnership and neighbourhood policing teams, together with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, inspected a property in Brookfield.
• Scale of the seizure: 10,932 packs of cigarettes, 1,348 vapes, and 558 packs of hand-rolling tobacco were confiscated, valued at about £212,000.
• Health warning: Police say such illicit products may contain harmful chemicals, with cases of serious illness and even hospitalisation reported.
• Official statement: Trading Standards will continue enforcement against illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes; any suspect cash believed to be proceeds of crime will be seized and reinvested into tackling local crime.
• Reporting channels: Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133); report to police on 101, or anonymously to Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) or online.

2Firsts, September 4, 2025 — According to a report by Lancashiretelegraph, acting on information from the public, the Prosper Partnership and Preston’s neighbourhood policing team, together with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, inspected a property in the Brookfield area of Preston. On site, officers seized 10,932 packs of cigarettes, 1,348 vapes, and 558 packs of hand-rolling tobacco; if sold as genuine, the total value is estimated at around £212,000.

PC Saunders of Preston’s neighbourhood policing team said the products seized in this operation may contain harmful chemicals. “Unfortunately, we have seen cases where people have become very unwell, sometimes even hospitalised, due to the use of illegal tobacco and vapes. As part of the Prosper Partnership, we will continue to work with our partners to make sure these products are taken off the streets.”

Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for rural affairs, environment, and communities at Lancashire County Council, said the council was pleased to support the police in this seizure, which “helps protect the health of Lancashire residents.” He added that any cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime would be seized by the council’s financial investigator and reinvested in fighting local crime, and that Trading Standards would continue to target illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes and take enforcement action against anyone breaking the law.

Members of the public can report illegal sales via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133). To report a crime, contact police on 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or submit a report online.