FAKE walls and a fake fridge were used by South Devon retailers trying to conceal illegal tobacco as Trading Standards execute raids on several premises.

Officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards (HOTSWTS) took part in a major operation to disrupt the sale of illegal tobacco across the region last week.

Supported by Devon and Cornwall Police, officers visited six retailers, four in Torquay and two in Exeter.

Using specifically trained sniffer dogs, Bran, Cooper and Griff, as well as illegal cash detection dog Maggie, illegal tobacco products were seized at all six premises, including illegal vapes at two and cash at two.

Some of the seized cigarettes
Some of the seized cigarettes (Heart of the South West Trading Standards)

The recovered goods, including more than 200 illegal vapes, 1000 cigarette packets and 400 pouches, are thought to be valued at £16,000.

Officers also discovered several sophisticated attempts to conceal the stashes, including fake walls and a fake fridge with a hydraulic opening mechanism.

The seizures were all part of a nationally funded illegal tobacco disruption operation called Operation CeCe.

Regional illegal tobacco and vape lead in the South West, Ben Hayes, who co-ordinated Operation CeCe, said: ‘This has been another successful multi-agency operation to tackle illegal tobacco disruption, and the criminals who operate in our communities.

‘Members of public need to be aware of serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs.

‘I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West www.tssw.org.uk/report-it you may have the missing piece of information that we need to disrupt serious and organised crime.’

Six retailers were raided during the operation
Six retailers were raided during the operation (Heart of the South West Trading Standards)

Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Heart of the South West Trading Standards, said: ‘Cheap illegal tobacco and vapes are being sold at ‘pocket money’ prices meaning they are accessible to children.

‘The sellers of these products do not care about the age of the buyers or the impact the products are having on the local community.

‘The money made from their sale is used by organised criminal gangs to finance other illegal activities, such as drugs, modern day slavery and people trafficking.’

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: ‘The service uses detection dogs so for retailers who think they can get away with this illegal activity there really is nowhere to hide.

‘And for those who think illegal tobacco is a victimless crime think again.

‘We know that the availability of cheap, illegal tobacco at pocket money prices encourages 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.

Police Inspector Ben Shardlow, who heads up local police teams in Torquay town centre, said: ‘This proactive warrant was a great example of working together with Trading Standards to target those causing harm within our communities.

‘I am pleased we were able to seize a significant amount of illegal goods and remove them from the streets and circulation.’

Sales of illegal tobacco and/or vapes can be reported anonymously to the Trading Standards South West team at www.tssw.org.uk/report-it or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer advice line on 0808 223 1133.