A multi-agency enforcement operation in North Somerset has resulted in the seizure of almost 1,100 packets of cigarettes, more than 18kg of tobacco and a quantity of illicit vapes, as authorities targeted retailers suspected of involvement in criminality and exploitation.
The two-day operation took place on 11 and 12 August across Portishead, Yatton, Nailsea and Weston-super-Mare, with officers visiting 13 retailers, including convenience stores and barber shops. Avon and Somerset Police said the action involved North Somerset Council Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs, with assistance from several other agencies.
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the seized cigarettes and tobacco were either counterfeit or had not had the required duty paid. The operation also resulted in toys and e-cigarettes being removed from circulation.
A tobacco detection dog named Rio played an important role in the searches, identifying concealed products and prompting officers to examine vehicles connected with suspected criminality. North Somerset Council said some of the illegal tobacco had been deliberately hidden in specially adapted vehicles and outbuildings attached to businesses.
The operation was supported by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, North Somerset Council’s Food and Commercial Safety Team, Avon Fire and Rescue Service and the Department for Work and Pensions. Home Office officials were also involved, and one man was arrested and bailed on suspicion of immigration offences.
The authorities estimated that the seized goods represented a loss of about £44,230 to those selling them illegally, while their potential legitimate retail value was more than £110,000. The figures illustrate the scale of the illicit trade being targeted by the operation.
The Somerset Leveller reported that the raids involved a mixture of convenience stores and barber shops and confirmed that nearly 1,100 packets of cigarettes and 18.4kg of tobacco were seized. The local publication also reported the involvement of the Department for Work and Pensions and the arrest relating to suspected immigration offences.
Similar details were reported by Hits Radio Bristol, which described the action as a multi-agency operation targeting criminality and exploitation. According to the broadcaster, officers and customs officials visited 13 retailers and seized tobacco products after they were identified as counterfeit or duty unpaid.
Burnham-on-Sea.com likewise reported that Avon and Somerset Police, North Somerset Council Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs worked together during the two-day crackdown. It said the operation also resulted in the seizure of toys and e-cigarettes, while a specialist tobacco detection dog helped uncover products hidden from investigators.
The operation reflects a wider effort by authorities to treat the illegal tobacco trade as more than a regulatory issue. North Somerset Council said illicit tobacco can undermine legitimate businesses, make tobacco products more accessible to young people and provide income for wider criminal activity.
Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council’s cabinet member for regulatory services, said the operation demonstrated the value of agencies working together to disrupt illegal tobacco sales and protect consumers and legitimate businesses.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Joshua Osborne of Avon and Somerset Police similarly described the operation as a successful example of partnership working. He said businesses suspected of criminality and exploitation would continue to be targeted and urged members of the public to report concerns so that police and partner agencies could take action.
Ben Hayes, regional lead for tobacco and vapes at Trading Standards South West, said the operation demonstrated how effective joint enforcement could be. He warned that illegal tobacco is sometimes sold to children at very low prices and that money generated from the trade can be used to support other criminal activity.
The operation was not limited to tobacco. Alongside the cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, officers seized illicit vaping products and unsafe toys. The involvement of the Department for Work and Pensions and Home Office officials also demonstrates how enforcement operations can address several forms of suspected criminality at the same time, rather than treating individual offences in isolation.
According to North Somerset Council, investigations into the offences identified during the operation remain ongoing. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco, illicit vapes or underage sales to report their concerns.
The North Somerset operation therefore represents a coordinated response involving policing, customs, welfare officials, local government and immigration enforcement. While the immediate focus was the removal of illegal products from retailers, authorities say the broader objective is to disrupt the criminal networks and exploitation associated with the illicit trade.