UK police seize illegal tobacco and vapes in Bristol and Stoke-on-Trent raids

Police, council trading standards and customs officials conducted joint operations in South Bristol and Stoke-on-Trent to confiscate illegal tobacco products, THC vapes and cannabis. In Bristol, the June 11 Operation Checkmate raid on five premises seized about 1,000 packs of suspected illegal cigarettes, kilograms of tobacco, a quantity of cannabis and a large number of THC vapes.

In Stoke-on-Trent, raids on shops and self‑storage units uncovered more than £250,000 worth of illicit items, including 11,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, 150 kg of counterfeit hand‑rolling tobacco and over 1,300 illegal vapes. Authorities said the seizures disrupt organised crime, protect public health—especially for young people—and prevent revenue loss from untaxed products.