The haul of illicit products also includes more than 800kg of hand rolling tobacco – with a combined revenue value of nearly £24 million. The Trading Standards operation has ramped up over the past year, as more seizures are being made across the country to disrupt the supply and trade of illicit tobacco products. The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs – often selling from shops and vape stores on UK high streets – and poses serious risks to local communities, especially younger people who can be hooked into a cycle of addiction by the supply of more accessible, cheaper and unregulated illicit tobacco products. Lord Bichard, chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime. “We urge anyone with information about the smuggling, distribution or sale of illicit tobacco to report it online.”