31,000 illegal cigarettes found during Oldham shop visits

A selection of the products found by inspectors has been on display.

Oldham Trading Standards Officers, supported by Greater Manchester Police, have seized 31,600 cigarettes and 12.5kg of rolling tobacco from three shops.

Premises on Yorkshire Street, Park Road and Hollins Road were visited and the tobacco was either suspected to be counterfeit or labelled not for the UK market.

If sold it was estimated to be worth around £50,000.

An investigation is ongoing by Trading Standards in relation to those responsible.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, said: “This is a good piece of work as the products should not have been on sale.

“We’d always encourage people not to smoke. But if you do buy counterfeit or illegal tobacco it can contain other products harmful to health.”

If the labelling on any tobacco you buy is incorrect then it is probably illegal.

Report suppliers who break the law and place the public’s health at risk by contacting the illegal tobacco hotline on 0300 999 0000 or online at www.keep-it-out.co.uk

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