More than 66,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized in Croydon after trading standards officers carried out a borough-wide operation targeting shops suspected of selling illicit tobacco.
Croydon Council said the goods would have had an estimated legal retail value of more than £70,000. The haul also included 18kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 11kg of shisha, with investigations still ongoing after the day of action.
The operation focused on six shops identified through intelligence, while officers also found vehicles allegedly being used to store contraband. One vehicle linked to the investigation was seized and removed by the council and will be destroyed within 28 days if it is not claimed.
Six shops targeted in Croydon operation
The Croydon trading standards team led the enforcement action after receiving intelligence that illegal tobacco was being sold from shops in the borough.
Detection dogs Skye and Fred helped officers search for concealed stock during the raids. The council said the dogs located hidden areas where illicit goods were being kept.
The seizure covered three types of tobacco product: illegal cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and shisha. The council has not named the shops while investigations continue.
Illegal tobacco enforcement has become a recurring issue for local authorities across England, with councils linking the trade to organised crime, unsafe products and unfair competition for lawful retailers. Similar action has been reported in other areas, including illegal tobacco seizures in Upminster and shop closure cases involving hidden stock rooms in Liverpool tobacco enforcement.
Why the seizure matters for local businesses
Croydon Council said illicit tobacco sales are not limited to lost revenue. The authority linked the trade to organised criminal activity, pressure on legitimate businesses and the loss of tax income that would otherwise support public services.
For lawful retailers, illegal tobacco can undercut prices and draw trade away from shops that follow age checks, product rules and tax requirements. For residents, councils often treat the trade as part of a wider pattern of antisocial behaviour when shops become linked to hidden storage, cash sales and repeat enforcement visits.
Executive Mayor Jason Perry said the operation was part of his zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour in the borough.
“Illicit tobacco sales are not a victimless crime. They are often linked to organised crime and are a blight on Croydon’s residents and genuine businesses,” he said.
Vehicle seized as investigations continue
Alongside the shop raids, officers identified vehicles believed to be connected to the storage of illegal tobacco. One was seized and removed by the council.
The authority said the vehicle will be destroyed within 28 days if it is not claimed. That next step will depend on whether anyone comes forward and whether the vehicle remains linked to the ongoing investigation.
The council has not announced any prosecutions or closure orders from this operation. Further action could follow once trading standards officers complete their inquiries and review the evidence recovered from the shops and vehicle.
Residents asked to report illegal tobacco sales
Croydon Council is asking residents to report suspected illegal tobacco sales so officers can build intelligence before future operations.
Reports can be made to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or directly to trading standards at trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk.
“If you are selling illegal tobacco in Croydon, we will take action,” Perry said. “I would also encourage residents to report concerns about illicit tobacco sales so that we can continue to protect local businesses and keep our neighbourhoods safe.”
Source: Croydon Council
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This report is based on Croydon Council’s published account of the trading standards operation and the figures it released.
- Verified the reported seizure of more than 66,000 illegal cigarettes.
- Checked the listed additional items: 18kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 11kg of shisha.
- Confirmed that six shops and at least one vehicle were described as part of the operation.
- Separated confirmed council action from possible next steps while investigations continue.
- Source
- Croydon Council
- Scope
- Croydon
- Updated
- 2026-06-01 14:47
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