Lincolnshire Police raid eight shops in Boston, Holbeach and Spalding seizing 90,000 cigarettes, 300 vapes and 10kg of hand rolling tobacco

A crackdown on illegal cigarettes, vapes and tobacco has resulted in the biggest retail haul ever made in the county with police arresting a 50-year-old man.

Lincolnshire Police found more than 40,000 illicit cigarettes hidden within the premises of Nida Express in Winsover Road, Spalding, earlier this week.

The team raided a total of eight shops - including Max Mini Market, Winsover Road - in Spalding and Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. A store in Holbeach was also visited in the operation. Both Spalding shops remain open.

More than 90,000 cigarettes, 300 vapes and 10kg of hand rolling tobacco were seized from Boston stores: American Vape, Boston Shop, The Vape Centre, Boston Food Market and Bode.

Insp Ian Cotton said the latest round of raids - which were undertaken with Lincolnshire Trading Standards officers - will be providing future leads and has vowed to disrupt the criminals behind this trade.

He said: “As a result of this latest round of enforcements we now have numerous intelligence opportunities that will be followed up to establish the key players in the trade in illicit goods in our local community and beyond.

“Tackling issues related to illicit product sale and anti-social behaviour can be challenging, but it’s clear that our efforts and partnership collaboration are making a positive impact.

“Shops selling illicit and counterfeit goods can expect to be closed.

“This trade permeates so many areas of risk – public health, crime and ASB in shop localities, tax evasion, illegal working, and illegal entry to the UK.

“We will continue to do as much as we can to disrupt these criminals.

“Lincolnshire leads the way with its partnership work in this area and my team, along with our partners, are resolute in our determination to disrupt this pervasive criminality in line with our policing priorities.”

A 50-year-old man was arrested at American Vape on West Street in Boston on suspicion of acquiring, using or possessing criminal property and trademark offences. He has been released under investigation.

Part of the seizure in Boston comprised ‘super vapes’ - which are the largest capacity illegal vape police have ever seen.

Each of these vapes contains the nicotine equivalent of 375 average king size cigarettes.

Statistics show the shops targeted are 14 times more likely to sell such products to persons under the age of 18 which police say is particularly concerning.

The planned operations involved officers from Lincolnshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams, the Intelligence Development Unit and Alcohol Licensing Team with partners from Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, and Wagtail UK’s tobacco dog and handler.

As a result of these enforcements, Trading Standards are now conducting separate criminal investigations on the people in these shops and the business owners further up the chain.

A lot of the cigarettes were counterfeit and the maximum penalty for selling illegal cigarettes is up to ten years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine and by making one arrest the police have gathered important intelligence.

A police spokesperson added: “Trading Standards will continue to apply for closure orders on all premises that have been found to be selling illegal tobacco products.

“Where Closure Orders are issued, the landlords of the premises will be sent a formal notification in the form of a joint letter from Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police.

“It is our aim to work with landlords to remove problem tenants whilst the Closure Order is in operation.”

The letter advises them of the criminal activity taking place on premises within their overall control.

The money obtained by the tenants is derived from criminal activity, it follows therefore that the money received by the landlord in the form of rent is similarly derived from criminal activity.

However, landlords may be criminally liable where they ignore warnings, offers of assistance; and continue to receive money from criminal activity.

Principal Trading Standards Officers Andy Wright said: “These premises exist solely for the purpose of selling illegal cigarettes and vapes.

“Without sales of these products they would not be viable.

“We are aware of a number of law-abiding businesses that have been put out of business by this unfair competition.

“All the premises targeted are found in what the public perceive as high-risk crime areas of Boston and Spalding, and in areas where women in particular feel at risk.

“Clearly the presence of businesses founded on crime, and operated by criminals in these areas aggravates the situation.

“It is no exaggeration to say that Lincolnshire Trading Standards and our partners have adopted a unique and innovative plan that is proving effective in the long term and is being replicated nationwide.

“We anticipate continued action.”

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