Illegal tobacco worth almost £60,000 has been confiscated from retailers across the district following a series of operations.

Led by Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay Trading Standards and supported by HM Revenue and Customs and the police, the seizures were part of a three-day operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco.

In total 156,840 cigarettes (7,842 Packets of 20) and 36.25Kgs of hand rolling tobacco (725 x 50g pouches) were seized from retailers across the service area. 

In addition, shisha, valued at £3,070, was also seized.

Acting on intelligence officers discovered the illegal tobacco with the assistance of trained sniffer dogs. 

The seizures were part of Operation CeCe, a larger National Trading Standards partnership with HM Revenue and Customs aimed at tackling illegal tobacco. Investigations are ongoing.

A spokesman said: ‘The illegal tobacco trade is often linked to organised crime groups. It undercuts legitimate retail sellers, reducing government income through tax evasion.

‘The lack of regulatory control means that additional harmful substances and much higher levels of tar and carbon monoxide are found in illegal tobacco products. They can fail safety tests and many do not self-extinguish as a genuine branded cigarette would. A number of house fire deaths have been linked to the use of illegal cigarettes.’

Paul Thomas Head of Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards, said: ‘This is a great result and removes a large quantity of illegal tobacco from our street.

‘We know that the availability of cheap, illegal tobacco undermines action to reduce smoking rates and enables young people to start smoking.

‘We are also aware that the trade in illegal tobacco, which is often counterfeit, is used by organised crime groups to raise funds for their criminal activity.’

Inspector Simon Arliss of Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Working in partnership is key to tackling crime in the city. The intelligence provided by the community and shared with Trading Standards and HMRC has led to this successful operation.

‘It sends out a message, to those who would commit such crime, that the local community will not tolerate it.

‘We will be conducting similar operations in the months ahead.’