Police Raid Four Shops in Leyland, Seize Illegal Tobacco

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai

Nov.17.2023

Police Raid Four Shops in Leyland, Seize Illegal Tobacco

Lancashire Telegraph reports that Leyland police conducted raids on four local stores, seizing £50k worth of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Operation Centurion.

According to a report by the British media outlet, Lancashire Telegraph, on November 16th, the Leyland police in the UK conducted surprise searches at four local stores based on public tips, as part of "Operation Centurion." As a result of the operation, illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes valued at nearly £50,000 (approximately $62,000) were seized.

According to Mike Moys, the captain of Leyland South Ribble Community Police Team, the team is committed to enhancing the sense of safety and the living and working environment in the community and will work closely with the community.

References:

[1] Almost £50,000 in illegal cigarettes and vapes seized by police

Also Read:

[1] Economist: UK E-cigarettes is Huge Business but Indicates Strengthened Regulation

#Illegal e-cigarettes #E-cigarette shops

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations

Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations

Italy's Guardia di Finanza announced on October 28 that officers in Latina province had seized approximately 4.3 million e-cigarettes and smoking accessories at an unauthorized warehouse in an operation involving restrictions on the possession and sale of tobacco-related products. Another 300,000 suspected counterfeit or unsafe items were confiscated during separate inspections, bringing total seizures across the operations to more than 4.6 million products. Twenty-eight people were reported to judicial authorities over suspected smuggling and counterfeiting offenses. Officials did not disclose separate vape quantities, the value of the merchandise or alleged violations associated with individual brands.

North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation

North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation

North Carolina has expanded enforcement of its vapor product directory rules, authorizing more state and local law enforcement participation and establishing a task force led by the State Bureau of Investigation. The legislation requires at least one unannounced compliance inspection annually for retailers, distributors and wholesalers handling covered products. Penalties effective October 1, 2026, include civil fines of $500–$750 for a first violation and $1,000–$1,500 for repeated violations within 12 months, along with potential license suspension or revocation. Manufacturers may face penalties of $10,000 per unlisted product. The measures strengthen the product directory system established in 2024.

Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director

Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director

Eleftheria (Ria) Kioupritzi, a biopharmaceutical professional with more than 15 years of experience, has joined Philip Morris International as Director Scientific Affairs within Corporate Affairs. She previously served at Roche as Senior Scientific Communications Director for Neuroscience and Rare Diseases and worked extensively in spinal muscular atrophy. Her earlier career also covered competitive intelligence, clinical and regulatory monitoring, pipeline development and launch preparation. During her time working in Roche's SMA field, Evrysdi passed through several U.S. FDA milestones, including its initial approval, an expanded indication for younger infants and approval of a tablet formulation. Public records do not show that Kioupritzi herself led the FDA submissions.

UK HMRC Launches Vape Duty Stamps on October 1, Ushering in Supply-Chain Traceability as Chinese Exporters Face New Compliance Hurdles

UK HMRC Launches Vape Duty Stamps on October 1, Ushering in Supply-Chain Traceability as Chinese Exporters Face New Compliance Hurdles

HM Revenue & Customs put the UK's Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme into effect on October 1. All vaping liquids manufactured in or imported into the UK are now subject to duty at £2.20 per 10ml, regardless of nicotine content. The stamp regime will introduce digital functionality designed to provide traceability throughout the supply chain, with approved manufacturers, importers and warehousekeepers required to report product movements and retailers and consumers eventually able to scan stamps to verify authenticity. China exported $177 million of vape-related products to the UK in August, up 51.4% year over year, increasing the significance of the new compliance regime for China's Shenzhen-centered vape supply chain.

Gallery | InterTabac 2026 Opens as VAPORESSO, SKE, GREENTANK, GEEK BAR and Other Brands Take the Floor

Gallery | InterTabac 2026 Opens as VAPORESSO, SKE, GREENTANK, GEEK BAR and Other Brands Take the Floor

InterTabac 2026 opened in Dortmund, Germany, on September 15 alongside NUBIZ and InterSupply. According to the latest figures released by the organizer, the three trade shows bring together around 750 exhibitors from 64 countries. On site, 2Firsts observed vaping and related brands including VAPORESSO, DOJO, SKE, GREENTANK, GEEK BAR, HQD and ELUX.

AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected

AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected

AIR Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIR Global, has launched an offering of U.S. dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes, with proceeds primarily intended to repay its existing term loan and revolving credit facility. AIR has not disclosed the final size, maturity or coupon; Refinitiv, citing Moody's, reported an expected issuance of approximately $400 million and a Ba3 rating. AIR had about $412.4 million outstanding under the two bank facilities at June 30 and net debt of $344.8 million. In the first half of 2026, AIR's Al Fakher-led flavored shisha molasses business generated about 99% of company revenue, while New Growth Categories including Crown Switch produced $2.2 million in revenue and remained loss-making on an adjusted EBITDA basis.

Related Topics

News Regulation

Related Read

Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations

Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations

North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation

North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation

Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director

Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director

UK HMRC Launches Vape Duty Stamps on October 1, Ushering in Supply-Chain Traceability as Chinese Exporters Face New Compliance Hurdles

UK HMRC Launches Vape Duty Stamps on October 1, Ushering in Supply-Chain Traceability as Chinese Exporters Face New Compliance Hurdles

Gallery | InterTabac 2026 Opens as VAPORESSO, SKE, GREENTANK, GEEK BAR and Other Brands Take the Floor

Gallery | InterTabac 2026 Opens as VAPORESSO, SKE, GREENTANK, GEEK BAR and Other Brands Take the Floor

AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected

AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected