Illicit alcohol seized from Stoke pub
Around £60,000-worth of illicit tobacco and alcohol products have been seized from an unnamed Staffordshire pub.
An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and and Stoke-on-Trent trading standards officers resulted in the seizure of 7,880 cigarettes, 55.5kg of hand rolling tobacco, 113 litres of wine and 69 litres of vodka by HMRC. It is believed duty had not been paid on the products.
Around 30 counterfeit Stoke City Football Club shirts were also taken.
No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
"This is the biggest seizure of tobacco we have ever made in Stoke-on-Trent," said councillor Terry Follows. "We acted on intelligence received via our fake goods hotline. The seizure has involved the work of trading standards officers, working jointly with HMRC officials.
"The pub is in Stoke, but cannot be named at this stage while our investigations continue. Landlords need to be aware that if they are going to sell bootleg tobacco and cigarettes or counterfeit goods, they risk losing their licence.
"Such people are breaking the law, and will not be tolerated.
"We have a team of officers dedicated to tackling culprits and we will prosecute where appropriate."
Keith Morgan, specialist investigation detection manager for HMRC, added: "We are determined to eradicate this form of criminality and will work closely with Trading Standards colleagues to reduce the damaging impact on our communities."
Morgan appealed for people suspicious of counterfeit goods to report it on www.stoke.gov.uk/fakes.
