Illicit cigarettes, tobacco and illegal vapes worth over £11,500 seized in Salford

Trading Standards Officers at Salford City Council, together with partners, have seized illicit cigarettes, tobacco and illegal vapes, with an estimated retail value of over £11,500 following raids at four retailer premises in Swinton, Walkden and Cadishead.

The operation was part of a national initiative, Operation CeCe, to tackle the sale of illicit tobacco and to make sure retailers selling vapes were compliant with the single use vape ban that came into force in June.

Officers were supported by a dog handler at the premises, where tobacco and vape detection dogs Lilly and Billy discovered a total of 13,200 cigarettes (660 packets), 4.6kg of hand-rolling tobacco and a total of 498 illegal vapes, some of which was found in concealments to try to avoid detection. Goods are also suspected to be counterfeit and did not have the correct health warnings.

This follows further seizures which took place in April 2025, where a total of 3,860 (193 packets) cigarettes, 0.7kg hand rolling tobacco and 384 disposable vapes were removed from five retailer premises in Swinton and Eccles.

From 1 June 2025, it became illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes. All of the vapes seized were single use disposable vapes.

According to data published by HMRC in June, the overall size of the illicit market is estimated to be 13.8% of tobacco smoked and leads to a loss in taxes of £1.4bn annually in excise tax plus an additional £400 million in VAT.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety said: “The sale of these products is illegal and in Salford we will do all that we can to stamp it out. The packets carry no health warnings and taxes are not paid on it, which deprives our communities of funds for vital public services such as the NHS and social care.

“Purchasing products like these only profit criminals, and we must all play our part to cut the spread of illicit and illegal products to protect our communities.

“The people making money from these activities do not care who they sell to. Children and young smokers are often the key targets, making it easier for them to get hooked on smoking. This availability of illicit cigarettes, tobacco and illegal vapes makes it harder for people to quit and remain smoke free.”

Information on anyone selling illegal goods can be reported, anonymously, via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

You can also report any concerns, anonymously, by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.