Illicit tobacco is often sold from small shops and comes in the forms of non-duty paid known branded cigarettes, this includes genuine plain packaged items which have simply been smuggled in. Other brands are likely to be brands you cannot buy legally in the UK and will come in coloured packaging. Some may well be counterfeits of well-known brands, Amber Leaf Hand Rolling Tobacco being one of the most common counterfeited tobacco items. What they will all have in common is that the vendor will be selling them cheaply compared to legal cigarettes.
When people buy cheap, illicit tobacco they are supporting organised crime and making it harder for legitimate businesses to run successfully.
We would encourage you to report any instances where a retailer is selling illicit tobacco. They will often be hidden under the counter, or nearby and bought into the shop at the point of sale. Some criminals even build secret hides within the shops to store the goods.
To report the sale of illicit tobacco please use the following channels:
- London Trading Standards Reporting Tool – https://www.londontradingstandards.org.uk/report-consumer-crime/
- Citizens Advice Bureau – 03454 04 05 06
- https://keep-it-out.co.uk/anonymous-reporting/ – report online anonymously
Please remember to report any scam to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.
If you have actually been the victim of a trader or scam such as the above, or require consumer advice, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 0808 223 1133