Key Points:
·Four shops in Salford, UK were found to have illegally sold over 11,500 pounds (approximately $15,267) worth of counterfeit cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
·Operation CeCe aids in combating illegal tobacco sales.
·The city government is urging the public to report illegal sales of goods.
【2Firsts News Flash】According to the Manchester Evening News on August 4th, the Salford City Council announced that they had seized illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes worth over £11,500 (approximately $15,267) in four shops. This raid was part of the national initiative "Operation CeCe," which aims to crack down on the sale of illegal tobacco and ensure that retailers comply with the ban on selling disposable e-cigarettes that came into effect in June 2025.
During the operation, municipal trade standard officials, with the help of sniffer dogs, discovered a total of 660 packs of cigarettes, 4.6 kilograms of loose tobacco, and 498 illegal e-cigarettes, some of which were deliberately hidden to avoid inspection. In addition, some products were suspected to be counterfeit and did not have proper health warnings.
According to reports, in April 2025, authorities in Salford seized 3860 cigarette sticks (193 packs), 0.7 kilograms of hand-rolled tobacco, and 384 disposable e-cigarettes from five shops.
According to data released by HM Revenue and Customs in June, the size of the illegal tobacco market accounts for around 14% of total tobacco consumption, resulting in the government losing £1.4 billion (approximately $1.858 billion) in excise duty annually, and £400 million (approximately $531 million) in value-added tax.
Salford City Councilor Barbara Bentham said:
“The sale of these goods is illegal, and we will do everything in our power to stop this behavior. The packaging does not have health warnings and has not paid taxes, depriving our community of funds for public services and social welfare.”
She also emphasized that the existence of these products makes it more difficult for people to quit smoking, and called on the public to report sellers of illegal products.
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