Over £7000 Worth Of Illegal Tobacco Seized In Wrexham Raid

A substantial amount of illegal tobacco has been uncovered at a property and two stores in Wrexham. Warrants were executed at four premises in Hightown and Wrexham town centre yesterday morning.

The tobacco, estimated to have a street value of up to £7000, was found after a joint operation between Trading Standards, Police and the UK Border Agency. Overall there were around 27,000 cigarettes and 1300 packs of hand rolling tobacco seized.

Specialist “tobacco” sniffer dogs assisted with the operation, as did specially trained trading standards officers from Welsh Scambusters and the North West Illicit Tobacco Team.

A man has been arrested in connection with the tobacco seizure and released on bail, with enquiries ongoing.

Tobacco sales of this nature can be problematic to parts of the community with dealers known to disregard the legal age limit and sell individual cigarettes, both illegal practices.

Councillor David Griffiths praised the efforts of the collaboration:

“It is heartening to see genuine partnership working between enforcement agencies leading to such an excellent result. The impact of illegal tobacco in our community cannot be underestimated. It damages health, threatens the well-being of our children and has a detrimental impact on legitimate local business who lose trade to illegal sellers.

“The money lost through unpaid duty is money that could have been spent on schools, hospitals and in our communities. This action sends a clear message to those that deal in illegal tobacco.”