From: This is Grimsby
ONE in seven packets of cigarettes in North East Lincolnshire is smuggled or fake, it has been revealed.
Trading standards officers collected more than 1,350 discarded cigarette packets from across the borough, and one in seven of them was found to be illegal.
Revealing for the first time the area’s illegal sales trade, they were either counterfeit – posing a bigger risk to health – or tax and duty had been evaded, hitting the taxpayer in the pocket.
The news comes as a Grimsby man appeared before magistrates after he admitted possessing 4,620 illegal cigarettes.
Peter John Drewitt, 46, of Cambridge Road, appeared before Grimsby Magistrates’ Court following an investigation by North East Lincolnshire Council’s trading standards team. As tough economic times tempt more people into buying and selling such products, smokers were today warned that buying illicit cigarettes could pose a harsher health threat than those sold legitimately, and illegal traders, whose actions adversely affect genuine retailers, were told: “You will be prosecuted.”
John Seale, head of public protection at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “It is not surprising that, in these difficult financial times, some smokers are tempted to turn to cheap brands of cigarettes and hand- rolling tobacco to save money.
“However, many of these cigarettes are made overseas in premises where hygiene is poor and the quality of materials used is substandard. There are also no requirements to limit tar or other constituents – so you really have no idea what you are smoking. This is why the council works proactively to seek out and punish illegal tobacco sellers. Those who are caught will be prosecuted.”
Trevor Parkin, Tobacco Control Alliance co-ordinator, pictured, said: “One of our greatest concerns is that sellers of cheap cigarettes will readily sell to underage people. This illegal market therefore poses a real threat to the future health of our young people.”
Trading Standards officers discovered 20 different brands of counterfeit cigarettes and rolling tobacco in their survey of 1,353 packets, which were collected from 13 out of the authority’s 15 wards – just over 100 from each.
The Russian-produced brands L&M and Jin Ling are the most common, although Marble cigarettes, which are produced in China, and counterfeit Superkings, were also commonplace.
Once brought into the country, they are sold from a variety of outlets such as people’s homes, pubs, markets and even some shops.
More than 72,000 cigarettes and 50kg of hand rolling tobacco have been seized from such premises in North East Lincolnshire over the past two years.
The owner of one shop condemned the illegal cigarettes trade.
Owner of Kards ‘N’ Kandy newsagents and store in Park Street, Cleethorpes, Sandra Halligan, said: “I am sure it has affected our trade. It is a problem that is always there.”
But one smoker with experience of smuggling explained how easily he was able to get involved.
He said: “A friend invited a few of us to go over to Belgium. He paid for the tickets and handed us money to buy the cigarettes.
“We met someone and filled our holdalls.
“We split up when we went through customs and brought in hundreds of pounds worth.”
He said a 50g pouch of tobacco cost £4.50 and was then sold on the streets of North East Lincolnshire for between £6.50 and £7, while a pack of 20 cigarettes was bought for £2.50, and a carton of 200 for £30.
“When you pay between £5 and £6 for a packet of cigarettes in the shops, you can see why people do it,” he added.
