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￡100k of counterfeit tobacco goods found in Stoke-on-Trent flatSkip to contentBritish Broadcasting CorporationRegisterSign InHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and play brokers jogoPacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of The Earth EarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewsletters￡100k of counterfeit tobacco goods found in flat8 September 2025ShareSaveRichard PriceBBC News, West MidlandsShareSaveStaffordshire PoliceThe products found included 5,525 packets of illegal cigarettes Officers have seized about ￡116,000 of counterfeit goods, including thousands of packets of cigarettes, after searching a flat. Staffordshire Police said the search of the flat in Stoke-on-Trent took place after two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) patrolling around Market Street, Longton, saw three men acting suspiciously on 1 September.The men were searched which led to the discovery of a large amount of fake cigarettes.Working with the council's trading standards team, the flat search then uncovered 5,225 illicit cigarettes, about 900 packets of illicit tobacco and 484 illegal vapes.The cigarettes were worth an estimated ￡94,000, the tobacco about ￡18,000 and the vapes about ￡4,000, police added. Insp Rebecca Price, of the Staffordshire force, said: "These items are often used by organised crime groups to fund criminal activity and can pose serious health risks to local communities."Amjid Wazir, the council's cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability, said the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes would not be tolerated in Stoke-on-Trent.He said the work was part of the authority's commitment to creating a cleaner and safer city. "The message we are sending out is clear - you will face serious consequences if you choose to sell illegal products," he said. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.Related storiesThousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes seizedIllegal vapes and fake goods worth ￡1.4m seizedRelated internet linksStaffordshire PoliceVapingStoke-on-TrentTrading StandardsRelatedBoy, 14, and woman arrested over illegal vapesVape disposal warning after bin lorry firesHundreds of illegal vapes seized in crackdownMore from the BBC3 hrs agoMan charged over attempted kidnap near schoolAron Tesfamriyam, 27, from Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.3 hrs ago4 hrs ago'Gift to Trump showcases Stoke-on-Trent'Susan Rose, who runs Susan Rose China in Longton, made special gifts for Donald Trump's state visit.4 hrs ago9 hrs agoClub's 21-mile river race in crew member's memoryTwo teams from Trentham Canoe Club aim to raise money for Dougie Mac in a row along the Thames.9 hrs ago10 hrs agoIraq War veteran's punch-killer jailed for murderGregory Twigg, 32, is jailed for life after his attack on Iraq War veteran Lee Woodward.10 hrs ago12 hrs agoMoorcroft boss 'emotional' as production restartsThe reopening comes three months after the collapsed firm was bought by the founder's grandson.12 hrs agoBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherBBC ShopBritBoxBBC in other languagesFollow BBC on:Terms of UseAbout the BBCPrivacy PolicyCookiesAccessibility HelpContact the BBCAdvertise with usDo not share or sell my infoBBC.com Help & FAQsContent IndexCopyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
