Police Action Targets Illicit Tobacco Supply

The Town Centre Neighbourhood Team has today arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the supply of illicit and counterfeit tobacco linked to a locally parked “stash vehicle.”

A significant quantity of suspected non-duty paid products has been seized, with an estimated retail value of £16,000. The male remains in police custody, and the vehicle has been seized.

A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said;

“This method—where customers request “cheap tobacco” inside a shop and the product is then retrieved from a nearby vehicle—is a tactic commonly used by organised crime groups to avoid detection.

While cheaper tobacco may seem appealing, the wider impact on our community is significant.

It undermines legitimate businesses, honest retailers are disadvantaged by illegal sellers offering cut-price goods, and it funds organised crime with profits from illicit tobacco frequently support wider criminal activity, including drug supply, smuggling, and money laundering.”

“We are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups operating within our town. We will identify and link this activity to so-called legitimate businesses and, working closely with HMRC and Trading Standards, pursue closure orders where appropriate.

Let today’s action serve as a warning—this enforcement will continue, and we will not stop until we achieve our objective. Those involved can also expect financial consequences through the use of Proceeds of Crime legislation.”