The ongoing illicit tobacco trade in the United Kingdom has raised serious concerns about public safety and the integrity of local businesses. Recent work on the ground and under cover have revealed a shocking pattern. Illegal cigarettes are already harming legitimate trade. They’re already linked to other serious crime. For this, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has begun a wave of coordinated raids on barber shops and mini marts across the country. This action highlights the seriousness and complexity involved in addressing this urgent issue.
To illustrate, earlier this year, agents with the NCA kicked off Operation Lentrade—a month-long effort. They found a network of shops believed to be dealing in illegal tobacco goods. Alan, a former detective now a Trading Standards officer, puts the figure at between 60 and 80 shops in Hull that sell illegal cigarettes. He’s resolute in his desire to fight this issue where it starts. The underground tobacco economy has widespread impacts that extend beyond the effects on local communities. According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), it is costing the UK at least £2.2 billion in lost revenue annually.
In May, Hungarian authorities raided an Asian-owned factory. They found warehouses stuffed with fake cigarettes, detailing in shocking detail the global nature of this illegal black market trade. Some of the illegal whites sold in Britain are believed to be produced locally right here at home. Others are arrivals from Ukraine, Poland and Belgium. Today, with continuous war in Ukraine, local leaders are under even greater tensions and danger. This unfortunate reality undermines their work to combat the legal production of contraband tobacco products.
In Hull, as part of their investigation, the BBC made multiple visits to all 12 shops. They tried to purchase low-cost cigarettes and filmed the shopkeepers’ reactions in secret. In the UK, the price for an average pack of cigarettes is £16. On the black market, you can get illegal packs for as little as £3 to £5 each. This extreme gap in price creates an unlevel playing field for legitimate businesses that follow the rules and operate according to strict regulations.
“If you’re a law abiding business following the rules, you’re jeopardising your own livelihood and the viability of your own business.” – Prof Taylor
Emmeline Taylor, a criminology professor at King’s College London, recently raised an interesting point. She explained that the networks that fuel the illicit tobacco trade often operate in ways far more nefarious than just selling cigarettes.
“They’re not just dealing in tobacco,” – Emmeline Taylor
These criminal enterprises are connected to more violent crimes, including gun trafficking, drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal immigration.
“It’s firearms, it’s drugs, it’s people trafficking, it’s illegal immigration.” – Emmeline Taylor
The implications for communities are dire. The continued infiltration of illegal shops undermines faith in local businesses and the community’s leadership. Community researcher Josh Nicholson described a deepening feeling of powerlessness among residents in their relationship with police.
“From research we have done there is a feeling of powerlessness, a lack of respect for authority like the police,” – Josh Nicholson
This sentiment is further worsened by a felt lack of action—or failure of inaction—at the level of low-level crime. Nicholson added,
“Are the police… seen to be tackling low level offences? When they don’t see it tackled, people’s perception is that things are getting a lot worse.” – Josh Nicholson
The issue has led Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to label the situation a “total disgrace.” She highlighted the issue of criminal gangs taking over high streets, using them as fronts for their organized crime. She managed to insert language stating that these operations were endangering public safety. They further undermine our border and immigration systems by employing illegal workers.
“Criminal gangs are trying to abuse our high streets by using shops as a front for organised crime.” – Yvette Cooper
Legislative amendments adopted last year brought in stricter regulations to prevent the illegal tobacco market. The maximum penalty for offenders convicted of the illegal sale of cigarettes is now £10,000. Even with these efforts, enforcement is still an uphill climb due to the vast networks protecting this illegal trade.
In fact, as Prof Antonopoulos concludes, there is some evidence that suggests large-scale, domestic production of illicit tobacco exists entirely within the UK itself. This creates challenges to enforcement efforts as local authorities are forced to walk the line between local and international terrains to most efficiently dismantle these operations.
The BBC’s undercover investigation revealed a stark reality: some shop owners dismiss the seriousness of their actions. One individual involved in a shop stated,
“It’s not something dangerous, it’s only cigarettes.” – Man who helps out in the shop
Such statements reveal a deeply concerning acceptance of illegal sales as business as usual among certain community members. We hear from thousands of residents fed up with the dangerous effects these unlicensed shops are unloading on their communities.
Where illegal tobacco sales are allowed to thrive, communities can feel the harmful ripple effects. When retailers allow their suppliers to pursue these practices, they endanger honest retailers. Not only does this performative annoyance harm dialogue, it poisons the entire community climate of wellbeing.
“They’re expendable; if they get caught they just replace them with another.” – Alan
The illegal tobacco trade is a complex issue that must be addressed now by law enforcement and policymakers to stop this blight on society. Authorities are intensifying their response to fight this growing menace with more funding and tougher regulations. At the same time, communities are left to deal with the consequences of these activities on their everyday lives.
“When the quality … dramatically declines, and they feel they can’t even go there – what that does to a sense of community is unquantifiable.” – Source not specified
The illegal tobacco trade poses a multifaceted problem that requires immediate attention from law enforcement and policymakers alike. As authorities ramp up efforts to combat this issue through increased funding and stricter regulations, communities continue to grapple with the implications of such activities on their daily lives.