Fifteen individuals in the Gateshead area of England were arrested, according to a report by ChronicleLive on August 1st. The community police team seized over 245,500 illegal cigarettes and 3,200 illegal disposable e-cigarettes, with an estimated value of around £130,000.
It has been reported that since last month, the Northumbria Police have been carrying out search warrants at several properties in collaboration with the Gateshead Council's trading standards agency, as part of the "Operation Vienna" targeting anti-social behavior.
The purpose of these actions is to disrupt production lines and remove unregulated items from the streets. After three raids, the "Vienna Operation" team has now arrested 15 individuals, aged between 18 and 53.
Northumbria Police Chief Inspector Thomas Hart stated that the police are "working hand in hand" with parliamentary officials to combat criminal activities. He said, "People often forget that these illegal items they are buying do not comply with any regulations.
These illegal cigarettes were produced under suspicious conditions, and we have found that some e-cigarettes are equipped with dangerous high-capacity batteries, with nicotine levels ten times higher than legal products. We also believe that these illegal e-cigarettes are designed to appeal to underage users, as police have discovered items shaped like teddy bears and milkshake bottles.
The illegal tobacco trade disrupts the normal operations of law-abiding businesses and often uses its profits to fund organized crime, so we need to eliminate it from the streets. We appreciate the public members who have helped us with our investigations so far, and we request everyone to continue reporting any suspicious activities in the community.
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