Four Shops in Salford, UK Seized for Storing Illegal Tobacco Products Worth Over $15,000

Aug.05

Four shops in Salford, UK, were found with illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes worth over £11,500 (around $15,267). The operation, known as CeCe, targets illegal sales, and the local government is urging the public to report such activities.

Key Points:

·Four shops in Salford, UK were found to have illegally sold over 11,500 pounds (approximately $15,267) worth of counterfeit cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

·Operation CeCe aids in combating illegal tobacco sales.

·The city government is urging the public to report illegal sales of goods.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to the Manchester Evening News on August 4th, the Salford City Council announced that they had seized illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes worth over £11,500 (approximately $15,267) in four shops. This raid was part of the national initiative "Operation CeCe," which aims to crack down on the sale of illegal tobacco and ensure that retailers comply with the ban on selling disposable e-cigarettes that came into effect in June 2025.

During the operation, municipal trade standard officials, with the help of sniffer dogs, discovered a total of 660 packs of cigarettes, 4.6 kilograms of loose tobacco, and 498 illegal e-cigarettes, some of which were deliberately hidden to avoid inspection. In addition, some products were suspected to be counterfeit and did not have proper health warnings.

According to reports, in April 2025, authorities in Salford seized 3860 cigarette sticks (193 packs), 0.7 kilograms of hand-rolled tobacco, and 384 disposable e-cigarettes from five shops.

According to data released by HM Revenue and Customs in June, the size of the illegal tobacco market accounts for around 14% of total tobacco consumption, resulting in the government losing £1.4 billion (approximately $1.858 billion) in excise duty annually, and £400 million (approximately $531 million) in value-added tax.

Salford City Councilor Barbara Bentham said:

“The sale of these goods is illegal, and we will do everything in our power to stop this behavior. The packaging does not have health warnings and has not paid taxes, depriving our community of funds for public services and social welfare.”

She also emphasized that the existence of these products makes it more difficult for people to quit smoking, and called on the public to report sellers of illegal products.

References:

[1] More than £11k worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized from just four Salford shops

Also Read:

[1] UK E-Cigarette Stores Report: Smokers Switching to E-Cigarettes Could Save Over £2,400 Annually

[2] UK E-Cigarette Approved List Update: 320 New SKUs Approved, Including ELFBAR, SKE, MASKKING, and More (July 28 - August 1)

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

Thai Police Seize 48,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes Worth About $630,000

Acting on directives from senior government and police officials, Thai authorities seized 48,301 e-cigarettes and related products in central Thailand, valued at about 20 million baht (approximately US$630,000), as part of a crackdown on illegal vaping.

Oct.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai

China Tobacco Accelerates Global Cigar Expansion as CTIHK Becomes Unified Export Platform

After decades of dominance by Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, a new contender is emerging from the East. China Tobacco International (HK) has consolidated the country’s top four cigar brands under one global export platform — a move that could redefine how the world perceives “Chinese cigars.”

Nov.11

Philip Morris International Fails to Invalidate British American Tobacco Unit’s Vape Patent

The European Patent Office’s Board of Appeal upheld British American Tobacco’s Nicoventures Trading Ltd. vape patent, rejecting Philip Morris International’s objections. The board ruled that the patent’s use of predefined heater activation parameters not based on user puffs was novel and valid.

Nov.10

Bedford supermarket ordered to close for three months for selling illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes

Officials from the Trading Standards Department of Bedford City Council in the UK have issued a three-month closure order to a supermarket because it repeatedly violated regulations by selling illegal tobacco and e-cigarette products.