Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire crackdown on illegal tobacco trade

Warwickshire County Council and partners carried out Operation Etone, the largest coordinated effort in the county to target illegal tobacco and vape sales. The operation removed harmful products from local communities and disrupted organised criminal activity.

In Nottinghamshire, Trading Standards officers intercepted a vehicle linked to a rogue shop and seized 7,540 counterfeit cigarettes and 74 packs of illegal hand‑rolling tobacco, valued at about £7,875. The haul brings the council’s total seizures of illegal tobacco and vape products since October 2023 to over £1 million. Councillor Jody Stoll, cabinet member for communities and public health, said: “Seizing these illegal tobacco products and taking them off the market is an excellent result for our officers and means that thousands of counterfeit cigarettes have been removed from the black market.” Both authorities said the actions protect public health, prevent tax loss and send a strong message that illegal tobacco will not be tolerated.