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Contraband cigarettes and alcohol seized in joint operation in Peterborough
A MAJOR swoop on businesses in Peterborough has resulted in thousands of contraband cigarettes and litres of illicit alcohol taken off the streets.
A high-profile, two-day operation in the city to clamp down on illicit tobacco has resulted in the seizure of 32,000 cigarettes - some containing anything from rat droppings to high-levels of arsenic.
More than 4,220 litres of alcohol including wine, beer, cider and vodka – some of which had been made with a mix of methanol a chemical used to make anti-freeze – were also seized from Peterborough shops.
The crackdown took place on Tuesday and Wednesday last week and was part of a joint initiative by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Cambridgeshire Police and Peterborough City Council’s trading standards officers.
More than 50 retail, business and domestic premises were raided across the city.
They seized contraband, representing a total tax loss to the Government of £20,000, from 26 of the properties.
Many of the products were real brands which had been smuggled in to the country without tax and duty being paid.
In other cases illegally manufactured cigarettes and alcohol were seized.
Peter Gell, the council’s strategic regulatory services manager, said: “This illegal trade is a growing industry, which we are getting more and more intelligence about, and the real problem is you don’t know what’s in the cigarettes or alcohol.
“Some of the illegally made vodka has been found to contain high levels of methanol, which is used to make anti-freeze and some fuels. Drinking it can be incredibly dangerous and could cause dizziness, breathing difficulties and even blindness.
“Production often takes place in unhygienic conditions.”
He added: “There is evidence the counterfeiting of alcohol in the UK is being taken over by organised gangs, setting up factories and making alcohol on an industrial scale, which then gets shipped out to off-licences, pubs and clubs.”
Many cigarette brands seized in Peterborough were what are known as “cheap whites” including Jin Lin and L&Ms.
They are effectively made purely for smuggling and can often be obtained in large quantities by organised crime gangs who smuggle them into the UK.
They are then sold illegally on the streets in residential areas, pubs and clubs and some small independent retail shops.
Counterfeit alcohol, such as the bottles of vodka which were found in Peterborough, are delivered to be sold at shops from the backs of vans across the country.
Some are made in illegal factories, while others are smuggled from Eastern Europe where it is made on an industrial scale.
Sergeant Matt Bill said street drinking is a target for police in the Peterborough.
He said: “This operation has resulted in a large amount of cheap alcohol taken off the shelves and will ultimately contribute towards reducing the problem.
“Residents can be assured we will continue to work with partners to target those who supply illicit, counterfeit or smuggled goods.”
Stuart Crookshank, HMRC assistant director, said “Low-cost tobacco and alcohol products can often seem attractive to local people, lured into purchasing at what seem like bargain prices.
“The truth is the goods have been smuggled and sales are unlicensed and unregulated.
“Those involved are not concerned if they are selling to children and underage young people and the illicit trade has a devastating impact on legitimate retailers and the community.
“With more than £2 billion in tax revenue drained from the public purse each year by tobacco smugglers, the problem of excise fraud is real and we are determined to crack it.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 27 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
badwolf
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 12:03 AMthe problem being is with tabacoo prices being so high in this country, then supply and demand for cheaper products will be higher and suppliers know this, and people will not be aware what is actually in them,
Gwynplaine
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 04:57 PMI'm waiting for the solid evidence and proof of these poisonings, without proof it's nothing more than a scare story on behalf of the tax man. Cue removal of comment :)
Brian Gascoyne
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 12:34 AMSo now it's up to the courts and the Licensing Committee to deal with the offenders. Why am I getting this feeling that all this work is going to come to nothing? Every one of them should have their Premises Licenses revoked and those who had illicit alcohol or dangerous cigarettes need to be given very stiff prison sentences, but I'll bet they won't! Is it worth the time and expense? Watch out for the final outcome, but be prepared to be let down by some very questionable results.
timetoleave
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 09:28 PMHear Hear @23 Where are the names, without them there is no story, tells us please.
Apsleyman
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 09:06 PMCan anyone explain to me why the shops concerned have not been named? As illegal products were seized on their premises there surely cannot be a problem in terms of privacy as they were caught red-handed. Individuals are named in the press when arrested for crimes which are yet to be proven, so why are these shops protected?
henry
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 05:54 PMWell we should see some shops closing if this is true. (I don't think so) All there intrested in is the money (TAX) not your health, how the hell do you Know if a drink is clean or not?
Gorgeous George
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 04:48 PMWhat happened to the licensing committee in all this? And what does off-sales mean? There's an offie on my road where the alkies sit on the front drinking their cans. Does that make it an onnie? Maybe the licensing committee needs a boot up the backside.
Gorgeous George
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 04:44 PMI read somewhere that 6 million people in the UK smoke cannabis. If they each spend £5 a week that's $1.5 billion a year. They none of them pay tax. That means the rest of us have to pay the tax to make up for it. PS The dealers are not who you think they are.
Dalek Sec
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 02:30 PM@18 My mate's band's called Contrababd - and I know he loves cigarettes and alcohol! :)
Lads Excellent in Training
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 02:05 PMCan I just say how much I'm loving the word 'contraband' in the title. It gives the article a touch of glamour, and evokes memories of The Streets of San Francisco and The Rockford Files, which is never a bad thing. So much better than the boring 'illicit' or 'bootleg'. Next time, maybe try using 'smuggled'? I fancy a 'Jamaica Inn' moment.
John Bradford
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 01:41 PMThe British government consistantly refuse to accept any EU laws that might be advantageous to the British public. Otherwise in respect of petrol, cigarettes, alcohol, community charges, road fund licence, television licence, income tax, Medical Care and other benefits from membership of the EU, your government pulls the wool over the eyes of the British public. However, according to your article, my French doctor is apparantly wrong over the causes of why I suffer dizziness, breathlessness and blindness.
Fish
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 01:26 PMThese are undoubtedly the same shops selling very cheap alcohol to the under 18's.
Gorgeous George
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 12:55 PMJessep: You want answers? Kaffee I think I'm entitled to them. Jessep: You want answers? Kaffee: I want the truth! Jessep: You can't handle the truth!
Veritas of Peterborough
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 12:32 PMGood point Fagan, also many of these new mini markets and restaurants are being opened by eastern Europeans. I hope the HMRC used under cover agents who spoke those languages as I am sure that if you ask for cigs or booze in their native tongue they would produce stuff from under the counter.
Fagan
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 12:29 PMPCC Landlords have a hand in all this too, between Taverners Rd & the Triangle there are so many mini supermarkets, news & booze stores & not to mention take aways, all selling more or less the same products, so PCC, how do you honestly think ALL these stores stay in business with such heavy competition & a supposed recession ? rent & rates are always going up & anyone paying a visit to Bookers or similar cash n carry places will know there's very little mark up on cig's & booze bought legally. wake up PCC..
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