Around £36,000 worth of illegal vapes and tobacco were taken off the borough’s streets in raids on two Romford businesses.
Havering Council trading standards teams - including enforcement officers, Havering police officers and sniffer dogs - raided the firms following reports that they were selling the illegal products.
It follows information gathered by the teams working in partnership as part of Operation CeCe - an HMRC funded operation targeting the illegal tobacco trade in the UK.
Investigations are currently ongoing in relation to the products seized and what further action may be taken against the two businesses.
Neither business can be named at this time.
Helen Oakerbee, Havering’s director of planning and public protection, said: “This is another great example of the work our trading standards and enforcement teams do, working alongside the police, to help keep our residents safe.
“We will continue to take the strongest action against those committing these crimes and won’t tolerate anyone or any business selling illegal or counterfeit goods in our borough.”
It is estimated that the UK economy loses £1.8 billion a year to the illegal tobacco trade.
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