Detective dogs sniff out illegal tobacco on National No Smoking Day

Specially trained detection dogs have sniffed out £1,000 worth of illegal tobacco – in raids carried out on National No Smoking Day.

They discovered 2.35kg of illicit hand rolling tobacco, 20 cigarettes, 18 cyclones and 16 blunts, during visits to seven premises (six of them licensed) in Bury and Whitefield.

The inspection visits were carried out by Bury Council trading standards officers and partners from the North West Illicit Tobacco Team and Greater Manchester Police.

Ozzie and Murphy, black labradors provided by Wagtail UK, helped detect the concealed stashes of tobacco.

The seizure included non duty paid products and incorrectly labelled products which cannot be legally sold in the UK. The visits were conducted to co-incide with National No Smoking Day (12 March 2014), and also discovered food items that were out of date and shops not displaying the correct tobacco notices.

Angela Lomax, Bury Council’s trading standards manager, said: “Those involved in dealing in illegal tobacco may be encouraging people, including children, to smoke by providing a cheap source. The detection dogs can find tobacco and cigarettes even if hidden in the most unlikely places. Offenders need to know that they will face consequences if they choose to deal in these illegal products.”

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, added: “Along with our partners, the council has been working successfully to reduce the supply of and demand for cheap illegal tobacco. Its low price and easy availability encourages people to keep smoking, and children and young people are often targeted by unscrupulous traders. This enforcement action is therefore welcomed.”

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, said: “Giving up smoking is the single best thing a smoker can do to improve their health. Cheap, illegal tobacco not only undermines people’s attempts to quit, but makes it easier for young people to take up the habit.”

Anyone with information regarding the sale of illegal tobacco can pass information confidentially to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06), or the Trading Standards North West Illicit Tobacco Team on 01925 442 466.

ENDS

Press release issued: 14 March 2014.

Picture attached: Murphy, one of the detection dogs which took part in the raids.

Notes to editors:

Facts and figures:

• Smokers admitting that they buy illegal tobacco is down from 19% to 17%
• Among 16-24 year olds the fall is greater – down from 28% to 23%
• Market volume decreased by 11%. This is at a time when smokers classified as ‘struggling financially’ increased from 20% to 25% and researchers expected financial hardship to push up demand
• This equates to nearly 60 million fewer illegal cigarettes and more than £13 million less duty and VAT evasion in the region.

Source: NEMS Market research 2009/2011

Why illegal tobacco is dangerous to communities:

• Illegal tobacco dealers target underage smokers, making it easier for children to get hooked - and young smokers are more likely to be offered illegal tobacco than adults.
• Because illegal cigarettes are cheap they encourage people to smoke more and make it harder for smokers to quit.
• Increasing tax offers an effective incentive for smokers to quit, but this is undermined by cheap smuggled tobacco.
• All tobacco contains around 4,000 chemicals including formaldehyde, arsenic and ammonia and is extremely harmful.

ALL smoking kills - the latest research http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/pubs/tobac-tabac/contra-cig-contre/index-eng.php suggests illegal tobacco poses the same risk to health. Much of the illegal smuggled tobacco is the same as the legal products you would buy from a shop.

More information on illegal tobacco in the North West is here:  http://www.keep-it-out.co.uk/