Over 10,000 illicit cigarettes and numerous packets of hand rolling tobacco worth £4,000 have been seized by Northumberland County Councils Trading Standards Service during a number of recent inspections.  
 

Officers from Trading Standards attended two business premises in the Ashington area after receiving intelligence which indicated that local shops were supplying the items. 

A specially trained sniffer dog was drafted in to check the premises for the cheap black-market tobacco which contains potentially dangerous ingredients and found stashes in highly concealed areas of the business premises. 
 

The premises are now under criminal investigation. 
 

Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle, cabinet member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: 

 "I would like to thank the public for providing the information we received which informed us of the illegal activity. Through these targeted operations we get illegal products off the street and help to ensure that children are kept safe and smoke free. 

 

“I strongly encourage residents to help us to keep illicit tobacco out of our communities. You can report this information anonymously by visiting www.keep-it-out.co.uk or by calling 0300 999 0000." 
 

Philip Soderquest Head of Housing and Public Protection, said: “The tobacco had been very well hidden and without the assistance of a tobacco detection dog may not have been found. This shows the lengths that the businesses have taken, to avoid detection.  

“Although some might think that this is a victimless crime, the sale of illicit tobacco brings crime into local communities, and we are increasingly aware that illicit tobacco is a gateway for many children to take up smoking."