Romford shop raid sees illegal tobacco and vapes seized

Thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco and vapes has been seized from a Romford business.

Havering Council’s trading standards team, along with Met Police, carried out a joint search and seized counterfeit products valued at £18,000 from the shop.

Around 400 vapes and 20,000 cigarettes and a “significant” amount of hand rolling tobacco that were “illegal” to sell within the UK were recovered.

A spokesperson for Havering Council said that they had carried out investigations into the business for weeks as part of Operation CeCe.

Upon arrival at the premises, officers found the products concealed in “magnetically sealed boxes” and removed them.

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The spokesperson added that council funded sniffer dogs, who are specifically trained to detect tobacco, were also used in the raid.

The business, they said, cannot be named as an investigation is ongoing.

Councillor Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said the operation has taken a “lot of work” to get these “illegal and harmful” products taken off the borough’s streets.

He added: “It’s our aim to help keep our residents as safe as possible and that’s why we will continue to take the strongest action when necessary, against those trying to sell these harmful products.” 

Inspector Matt Feather from the East Area BCU Partnership Team urged anyone with information regarding counterfeit goods to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The incident comes after the council recovered £35,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco from another Havering business in March this year.