Illegal Tobacco And Shisha Worth Nearly £14,000 Seized In Upminster Raid

Havering Council trading standards and Havering Joint Task Force officers have seized almost £14,000 worth of illegal tobacco and shisha during a major raid on an Upminster business.

The operation, carried out under Operation CeCe, saw trading standards teams join forces with enforcement officers, Havering’s S92 police officers and specially trained sniffer dogs funded through the national crackdown initiative.

The raid followed reports that the business was allegedly selling illegal tobacco products.

During the search, officers uncovered a significant haul, including approximately 49kg of illicit shisha hidden at the premises.

Investigations are now ongoing into the seized products and what further action may be taken against the business involved, which cannot currently be named for legal reasons.

Havering Council says the operation highlights the ongoing work being carried out to tackle the illegal tobacco trade across the borough.

Illegal tobacco and shisha products are often linked to organised crime and can pose serious health risks as they do not meet UK safety regulations.

Council officers say further enforcement operations will continue across Havering as part of efforts to target rogue traders and protect local communities.

Photo credit: Havering Council.

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