Illegal vapes and cigarettes worth £9k seized

Illegal vapes, tobacco and cigarettes worth more than £9,000 have been seized during raids in Staffordshire.

Officers from Trading Standards and Staffordshire Police discovered the illicit goods when they searched three premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

They found 5,460 cigarettes, 2.75kg of hand rolling tobacco and 431 oversized or banned vapes.

Councillor Anthony Screen, of Staffordshire County Council, said the supply of the illegal goods was closely linked to organised crime.

"The items can also be dangerous to people's health and can affect legitimate traders at the same time," he added.

The raids on 4 June came after the government banned single use vapes in response to health and environmental concerns.

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