Blitz on the rogue tobacco traders

Trading Standards chiefs revealed they have seized more than 2,000 illegal tobacco products following raids across Blackburn and Darwen.

And a leading councillor at Blackburn with Darwen Council today warned rogue traders it would continue its clampdown on tobacco-filled items which do not carry statutory health warnings.

According to a report, to be presented to the executive committee tomorrow, a wide-ranging haul of illegal tobacco goods are now accumulating within the Town Hall.

Officers believe Blackburn is being targeted because of its large Asian community, with many of the products -- such as tobacco toothpaste, tobacco sweets and chewing tobacco -- traditionally appealing to young Asian men.

The products are illegal because they do not carry statutory health warnings seen on cigarette and cigar packets.

Coun Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Citizens' Rights and Consumer Affairs, said a series of visits aimed at pinpointing tobacco products that did not carry statutory health warnings had already taken place.

A total of 11 visits were made and 2,169 items seized.

She said: "Advice and information have been given to the shopkeepers concerned and we do not expect to take any formal action.

"But we will be making follow-up visits to ensure our advice has been followed."

She added that each trader would receive a letter asking them to identify their source of supply.

She said: "We hope eventually to locate the importer of these products and ensure that the statutory warnings are applied at source."

The council is also planning to target retailers who are selling cigarettes to under 16s.

Permission will be sought from the executive committee for under 16s to be used in test purchases.

Before test purchases are carried out, shopkeepers will be reminded of the laws surrounding the sale of tobacco.

At the same meeting, Coun Bateson announced that checks to make sure that retailers were not selling tobacco to under 16s would continue.