ILLEGAL tobacco worth £6.5k has been seized by police in Kidderminster.
Police and trading standards searched two shops in Kidderminster town centre "that have been involved in the sale of illicit, counterfeit tobacco."
They seized £6.5k worth of counterfeit tobacco and a "substantial number of vaping products that were unauthorised for sale."
Worcestershire Trading Standards said they had visited shops which they have already seized illegal tobacco from four times already this year.
They tweeted: "Our officers were out in #Kidderminster this morning with @KMinsterCops visiting shops we've seized #illegaltobacco from four times previously this year.
"Yet more illegal tobacco found and seized."
Our officers were out in #Kidderminster this morning with @KMinsterCops visiting shops we've seized #illegaltobacco from four times previously this year.
— Worcestershire TS (@WorcsTS) January 18, 2022
Yet more illegal tobacco found and seized.@worcscc @Mark4WyreForest @WyreForestDC pic.twitter.com/VfiTT13TTn
A spokesman for Wyre Forest Police said the operation was part of the Safer Neighbourhood Policing week of action.
They said on social media: "An estimated £6,500 in substances was seized as a result of the raids this morning, as well as a substantial number of vaping products that were also unauthorised for sale.
"Counterfeit tobacco is highly dangerous - with a higher quantity of cancer causing toxins than are found in regulated products.
"They are also not manufactured to meet the reduced ignition propensity (RIP) requirement of normal cigarettes, increasing the risk of them setting fire to other combustible materials when left unattended or after disposal.
"Large scale illicit tobacco sales have also contributed to the finance of organised crime groups."
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