Cigarettes and tobacco among £14k of illegal products seized from city centre shops

Cigarettes and tobacco were among £14,000 of illegal products seized from seven Wakefield city centre shops during a joint police operation.

Police, Trading Standards and Wakefield Council's Licensing department carried out the joint operation targeting illegal sales of cigarettes, tobacco and oversize/single use electronic cigarettes.

Wakefield City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said applications for closure orders will be considered if the shops concerned continue with illegal sales.

A spokesperson for Wakefield City Centre NPT said: "Seven premises in Wakefield City Centre were visited throughout the day and illegal products with a retail value of over £14,000 were identified and seized.

"The sales of these dangerous and prohibited items are now being investigated by Trading Standards.

"West Yorkshire Police remain committed to working in partnership to tackle the illegal sales of products which are having such a detrimental effect within our communities.

"Police will also continue to work with these premises to prevent the continuation of this criminality.

"Should these illegal sales not stop, then applications to the Magistrate Court for closure orders will be considered."

Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspected illegal sales directly to Trading Standards at www.wyjs.org.uk/contact-us/ or via West Yorkshire Police at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it See less