Hundreds of illegal smoking products, including vapes, sezied from Ipswich store

Hundreds of illegal smoking products have been seized from an Ipswich store.

A combined operation by Ipswich Police and Suffolk Trading Standards confiscated 32 packs of hand-rolling tobacco, 92 packets of cigarettes and 157 non-compliant vapes on Tuesday.

The tobacco was hidden under a counter in the storeroom, a spokesperson for Suffolk Trading Standards said.

Some of the vapes seized could have offered as many as 9,000 puffs – well above the legal limit of 600, they said.

In another operation on the same day, hundreds more tobacco products were seized from a store in Stowmarket.

The authority suspected that all the tobacco products were imported into the UK illegally without duty being paid.

This meant they did not comply with legal packaging and labelling requirements.

“The seized products will now be fully assessed as part of the investigations to determine the exact offences that have been committed, and the action that will be taken,” the spokesperson added.

Anyone who suspects that a shop is selling illegal tobacco or unsafe e-cigarettes and vaping liquids, or making sales of age-restricted products to children is urged to report it to Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.