Lets Get is changing….

The new name for Lets Get will shortly move to Healthy Dudley and will also have a brand new website to boot! More information will follow soon!

Illegal tobacco products are cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco or niche products (such as beedis/bidis and sheesha/shisha) that have been:

  • brought into the UK in large quantities from countries with lower tax and then resold to you
  • foreign brands brought into the UK illegally to be sold on the black market
  • counterfeit products that are made cheaply to look like popular UK brands

Counterfeit tobacco products have no quality controls and can be made in very unhygienic conditions.

Selling illegal tobacco is a crime and can result in serious fines or prison sentences. It is usually sold from shops, pubs and clubs, workplaces or residential houses (fag houses). The people who sell do not care who they sell to and are often linked to criminal gangs.

In fact young people are often targeted by those who sell illegal cigarettes, as it is sold at ‘pocket money prices’ making it easier for them to take up the habit. They are often the ones to visit ‘fag houses’ to buy cigarettes. It puts them into risky situations with people who might also be selling drugs, alcohol and stolen goods.

People involved in the supply or sale of illegal tobacco can face serious penalties:

  • Up to 14 years in prison for proceeds of crime offences – this applies to employer’s who knowing allow illegal tobacco to be sold on their premises, shop, pubs & clubs or individuals selling from houses.
  • Unlimited fine
  • Any illegal tobacco and the vehicle used for transportation can be seized
  • Proceeds of the crime can be seized, whether it’s money or the confiscation of high value assets, such as jewellery, cars and property
  • Loss of job and poor employment prospects due to a criminal record
  • Shops caught selling illegal tobacco can also risk losing their license to sell alcohol
  • Tenants caught selling from houses will be in breach of their tenancy agreement and can risk being evicted from their property.

What are we doing about this?
Trading Standards officers are working with businesses, police and customs to identify the criminals supplying or selling illegal tobacco.

We are:
• Responding to complaints by carrying out raids on those who sell illegal tobacco
• Using sniffer dogs that can sniff out illegal tobacco wherever it is concealed, often hidden behind fake walls or in unusual locations.
• Conducting regular inspections to shop premises to check stock
• Prosecuting individuals and businesses for selling illegal tobacco
• Working with housing departments and associations to highlight the consequences of supplying and selling illegal tobacco
• Informing employers and retailers of the penalties for supplying and selling illegal tobacco

 

How you can help?

More and more people are providing information to stop local criminals selling illegal tobacco.

If you are aware of anyone selling illegal tobacco or other products you can report it anonymously by calling Dudley Trading Standards on 01384 818872.

It may not be possible to inform you of the outcome but be assured all information will be acted upon.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.