Key points
- Joint enforcement: The Prosper Partnership and neighbourhood policing teams, together with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, inspected a property in Brookfield.
- Scale of the seizure: 10,932 packs of cigarettes, 1,348 vapes, and 558 packs of hand-rolling tobacco were confiscated, valued at about £212,000.
- Health warning: Police say such illicit products may contain harmful chemicals, with cases of serious illness and even hospitalisation reported.
- Official statement: Trading Standards will continue enforcement against illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes; any suspect cash believed to be proceeds of crime will be seized and reinvested into tackling local crime.
- Reporting channels: Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133); report to police on 101, or anonymously to Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) or online.
2Firsts, September 4, 2025 — According to a report by Lancashiretelegraph, acting on information from the public, the Prosper Partnership and Preston’s neighbourhood policing team, together with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, inspected a property in the Brookfield area of Preston. On site, officers seized 10,932 packs of cigarettes, 1,348 vapes, and 558 packs of hand-rolling tobacco; if sold as genuine, the total value is estimated at around £212,000.
PC Saunders of Preston’s neighbourhood policing team said the products seized in this operation may contain harmful chemicals. “Unfortunately, we have seen cases where people have become very unwell, sometimes even hospitalised, due to the use of illegal tobacco and vapes. As part of the Prosper Partnership, we will continue to work with our partners to make sure these products are taken off the streets.”
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for rural affairs, environment, and communities at Lancashire County Council, said the council was pleased to support the police in this seizure, which “helps protect the health of Lancashire residents.” He added that any cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime would be seized by the council’s financial investigator and reinvested in fighting local crime, and that Trading Standards would continue to target illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes and take enforcement action against anyone breaking the law.
Members of the public can report illegal sales via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133). To report a crime, contact police on 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or submit a report online.
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
