COUNTERFEIT tobacco and vapes worth more than £50,000 have been seized from two shops in Widnes.

Officers from Halton Borough Council’s trading standards team carried out targeted enforcement visits with Cheshire Police and a tobacco dog.

The two traders, which the council says were ‘both known to trading standards for selling counterfeit tobacco and vapes to children’, had a wake-up call when they were visited by the officers and specialist detection dog Billy.

Within minutes of starting a search of one of the premises, Billy had already uncovered the first of two concealed staircase units used by the traders to hide counterfeit tobacco, as well as in a bathroom mirror.

At the other premises, Billy and the team identified a vehicle nearby being used to store the tobacco.

More than £50,000 worth of counterfeit and illicit tobacco and illegal vapes were seized, as well as the van being used to store the tobacco.      

The trading standards team said they were particularly concerned that the traders were selling counterfeit tobacco to children, leading them to ‘swiftly act on intelligence received’.

A spokesman said: “We are increasingly seeing counterfeit and illicit tobacco being sold from retail premises which are used to facilitate criminality.

“The unscrupulous traders target schoolchildren and will openly sell them tobacco and vapes, with no regard to their health.

“That is why we would like to thank residents who alerted us to these traders, and we would strongly urge anyone with information relating to the sale of counterfeit and illicit tobacco, or vapes to children, to report it.

“Your support is vital in helping us to remove these traders from Halton, and in helping to reduce the high level of smoking prevalence amongst children in the borough.”

Trading standards pro-actively target traders, whether they sell via the high street or online through social media, with a clear warning that sellers will face criminal enforcement action when they are caught.

Sellers should consider the impact a criminal conviction will have on their lives, employment prospects, ability to get holiday visas and reputation with neighbours and the community.

The spokesman added: “We have a duty to protect the health of residents in Halton, so it is important that we investigate and prosecute those involved in the supply of counterfeit or illicit tobacco.

“Their sale is a real concern, and more so when children are at risk of harm.

“The ongoing nature of this investigation sends a clear message to these criminals that Halton’s trading standards service will not let up if these individuals persist in peddling tobacco and vapes to the children of Halton.”

If you have any information involving the sale of counterfeit goods, report it anonymously by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. 

If you have any information specifically relating to the sale of illicit cigarettes or alcohol, call Halton trading standards on 0151 511 8787.