Illegal tobacco worth £12,500 seized from Gloucester flat

Officers found 2,284 packs of illegal cigarettes and 117 pouches of illegal hand rolling tobacco

Illegal tobacco worth £12,500 has been seized from a flat.

Officers executed a warrant at a flat in Gloucester city centre on 18 October following complaints from the community about the sale of illegal tobacco taking place in the area.

They found 2,284 packs of illegal cigarettes and 117 pouches of illegal hand rolling tobacco, worth a total of £12,500.

Gloucestershire Police also seized a quantity of cash.

Gloucestershire County councillor Dave Norman, cabinet member for trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Illegal tobacco harms the trade of legitimate suppliers and poses a risk to public health.

"This seizure shows that our trading standards team will work tirelessly to keep these harmful products off the streets and we are grateful to the community for information they pass to us."

Inspector Ash Gardner, from the neighbourhood policing team, added: "This was a great example of multi-agency work, supporting Trading Standards in their seizure of illegal tobacco.

"We will continue to work with our partners in the city to ensure that people feel safe in their communities."