We work with our partner agencies to investigate and prosecute people and businesses who sell:
- illegal tobacco products
- tobacco products to children
- tobacco products that do not comply with health and brand labelling laws
Illegal tobacco products often have:
- non-plain packages
- foreign language health warnings
- lower prices compared to genuine tobacco products
How to report illegal tobacco
Anyone can report illegal tobacco products. You do not have to give your name.
- Report consumer crime anonymously to London Trading Standards
- Email tradingstandards@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
- Call Royal Greenwich Trading Standards on 020 8921 8157.
Our work to stop illegal tobacco in Royal Greenwich
Since 2018, we have:
- Investigated 23 instances of the sale of illegal tobacco products, leading to 5 prosecutions
- Seized 104,380 illegal cigarettes, 16.45KG of hand rolling tobacco and 4,524 disposable vapes
Inspections
In 2020, we inspected 15 retailers. During inspections:
- no retailers failed or sold vapes or alcohol to underage people
- 1 retailer failed and sold cigarettes to underage people
In 2021, we inspected 5 retailers. During inspections:
- no retailers failed or sold vapes or cigarettes to underage people
- 1 retailer failed and sold alcohol to underage people
In 2022, we inspected 54 retailers. During inspections:
- 3 retailers sold vapes to underage people
- 2 retailers sold alcohol to underage people
- no retailers sold cigarettes to underage people
Also in 2022, we prosecuted Mr Kawran Ahmad of Noor Halal Meat, 66 Herbert Road, SE18 3SH. He was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order and ordered to pay £3,600 in costs plus a £95 Victim Surcharge.
In 2023, we inspected 12 retailers. During inspections:
- 2 retailers sold vapes to underage people
- 2 retailers sold alcohol to underage people
- no retailers sold cigarettes to underage people
We did the last survey of 2023 in May. We have more inspections scheduled.
News stories
- Hefty fine for business caught selling illegal tobacco - April 2018
- No cigarettes for minors after our successful operation with the Met Police - February 2019
- Illegally smuggled cigarettes found stashed behind shop wall - August 2021
- Successful crack down on illegal tobacco sellers in Plumstead - September 2023
Find out more about our work to support community safety in Royal Greenwich.