Thousands of packets of illegal cigarettes and tobacco have been seized from a Blackburn shop during a major multi-agency crackdown targeting businesses selling illicit goods across Lancashire.
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The operation — led by Lancashire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, in partnership with Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement, and local neighbourhood policing teams — saw enforcement activity at 22 businesses throughout the county, including Nelson, Oswaldtwistle, Lancaster, Morecambe, Preston and Blackburn.
In Blackburn, officers executed a warrant at 7 Days Blackburn Ltd on Railway Road, recovering:
- 14,000 packets of illegal and counterfeit cigarettes
- 3kg of illicit tobacco, valued at approximately £15,000
Some of the items had been hidden behind kickboards at the front of the shop.
The seizure formed part of Operation Wanderstar, a large-scale campaign aimed at disrupting businesses flouting the law for financial gain.
Detective Inspector Libby Wadsworth, of the Economic Crime Unit, said:
“This work is about targeting those businesses who seek to flout the law for their own financial gain.
Not only are they harming legitimate businesses, they are also putting their customers at risk by trying to pass off inferior products as the real thing.
Working with our partners, we’ve taken significant action to disrupt this illegal activity across the county.”
Councillor Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, added:
“This sends out a strong message that we will continue to take robust enforcement action against traders who break the law.
Illicit cigarettes and vapes worth almost £200,000 were seized countywide as part of this joint operation.”
Anyone with concerns about illegal trading activity in their area is urged to contact Lancashire Police or Trading Standards.
