More than 33 million illicit cigarettes have been seized from local retail outlets in the past year as part of Operation CeCe, a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to tackle the illicit tobacco trade. The haul of illicit products also includes more than 800kg of hand rolling tobacco – with a combined revenue value of nearly £24 million.
Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe has removed 102 million illicit cigarettes, 20,550kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities across the UK. The Trading Standards operation has ramped up over the past year, as more seizures are being made across the country to disrupt the supply and trade of illicit tobacco products.
The latest data show that successful seizures are increasing significantly as Operation CeCe expands. Penalties totalling £3.5 million have also been issued to retailers and individuals involved in the sale of illicit tobacco since 2023, when stronger powers were introduced.
The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs – often selling from shops and vape stores on UK high streets – and poses serious risks to local communities, especially younger people who can be hooked into a cycle of addiction by the supply of more accessible, cheaper and unregulated illicit tobacco products.
Lord Bichard, chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime. It makes cheap tobacco more accessible, particularly to young people, undermines honest local businesses and helps fund organised criminal networks that profit from exploiting communities.
“These latest results show that Trading Standards is building an increasingly detailed intelligence picture of the illicit tobacco trade and using it to target enforcement where it will have the greatest impact. Those who choose to sell illicit tobacco should be under no illusion – the chances of being identified are growing, and we will continue working with partners to disrupt this criminal trade, protect consumers and bring offenders to justice.”
Zoe Gascoyne, director, HMRC Fraud Investigation Service, said: “Illicit tobacco undermines legitimate retailers, funds wider criminality, and harms public health while depriving our vital public services of around £1.7 billion a year.
“We will continue to work with partners like trading standards to tackle this organised criminal trade that harms our communities. These criminal networks don’t care who they sell to, often targeting underage buyers.
“We urge anyone with information about the smuggling, distribution or sale of illicit tobacco to report it online.”
People and retailers are encouraged to report any concerns about illegal sales in their area.
- Report anonymously to HMRC online
- Or contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133
- In Scotland contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000
