Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been seized from an eastern European store after a
trading standards job.
Officials from Herefordshire Council, West Mercia Police and HM Revenue and Customs worked together to confiscate the goods from the Ross-on-Wye shop, the Hereford Times reports.
Shop owners had failed to pay duty tax on the 25,740 cigarettes and 14.55 kg of tobacco seized from the premises.
With a typical packet of 20 cigarettes having an additional £5.08 in tax placed on the price, council officials have warned cheap cigarettes could be counterfeit and dangerous for the consumer.
Leah Wilson, a trading standards officer from Herefordshire Council, told the newspaper: "Cheap cigarettes are deflecting customers away from genuine traders, making it difficult for a fair trading environment to thrive."
Ms Wilson noted the selling of counterfeit cigarettes poses a threat to traders who make an honest living.
This news comes after people with trading standards jobs issued a warning to shopkeepers who may be selling tobacco to underage smokers, the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reports.
Posted by Franchesca Critchlow
