Council appeal on illegal tobacco

Blackburn with Darwen Council is appealing for information about where illicit and illegal cigarettes and tobacco are being sold in the borough.

The appeal – launched to coincide with World No Tobacco Day on May 31 – is part of work to highlight the dangers of illicit tobacco locally.

Acting on intelligence from members of the public, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Trading Standards team have in the past been involved in operations targeting local premises selling counterfeit tobacco utilising a dog handler and a trained tobacco “sniffer” dog.

When tobacco is seized, it is taken away for testing and a decision made on whether to take further formal action. Similar operations are planned for the near future.

Councillor Yusuf Jan-Virmani, Executive Member for Neighborhoods, Housing and Customer Service, said:

It’s important to take action on the illegal trading of tobacco as it carries all sorts of extra risks beyond those usually associated with smoking. The low price and easy availability encourages people to keep smoking and children and young people are often targeted by unscrupulous traders. We appeal to anyone to get in touch if you have information about any people or businesses selling counterfeit or illicit tobacco products in your community.

If you have any information on the sale of illicit and illegal cigarettes and tobacco in Blackburn with Darwen contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the Council’s Public Protection Service on (01254) 267677.