More than £140,000 worth of illegal tobacco has been taken off the streets and two people arrested after a day of action involving police in Preston.
Officers from Lancashire Constabulary joined with ten organisations to carry out enforcement and reassurance activity in the Plungington area on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
The work brought together colleagues from Preston City Council, Lancashire Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Immigration Enforcement.
Working with Lancashire Trading Standards, over £140,000 worth of illicit tobacco was seized and two individuals were arrested for immigration offences.
PC Ruth Lloyd, Community Beat Manager for Plungington, said: “This day of action shows the real difference we can make when police and partner agencies work side by side with a shared purpose. By combining our powers, resources and local knowledge, we are able to target the issues that matter most to residents and take meaningful action to improve safety and quality of life in the area.”
Paul Noone, head of Lancashire County Council Trading Standards service, said: “We teamed up with Lancashire Constabulary to seize 7,200 packs of illicit cigarettes and tobacco from shops in Plungington, representing a £140,000 loss in trade for legitimate retailers.
“One of the seizures involved a sophisticated concealment that had to be broken open by officers.
“The number of cases we are dealing with shows just how lucrative the illegal tobacco trade is, with some unscrupulous retailers unwilling to comply with the law.
“The manufacture and sale of illegal tobacco harms legitimate businesses and our communities, and it is something we are determined to tackle.
“Concerned residents are advised to report all illicit tobacco sales and intelligence to the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline 03454 040506. Please also pass any information about illegal business practices or suspicious activity to police via 101 or online reporting.”
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