Criminal Gangs Tighten Grip on High Streets as Illegal Tobacco Trade Surges Across Britain

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A sharp rise in organised criminal activity linked to the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products is blighting British high streets, with more than 3,600 shops raided across England, Wales and Scotland over the past year. Councils and Trading Standards teams report an uphill battle against a growing illicit trade that fuels wider criminality, undermines honest businesses, and endangers public safety.

In Newport, South Wales, 19 shops along a single mile-long stretch have been shut down in the last nine months for selling illegal cigarettes and vapes. According to Trading Standards officer Steve Hay, many of these stores are controlled by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals and engaging in broader illegal operations, including drug trafficking, forced labour and immigration offences.

“It’s not good enough, it’s appalling,” said Hay, who has described the situation as an “endless battle”. Local shopkeepers, like Erol Kaya, a long-time resident and law-abiding businessman, say the lawlessness has left customers afraid to visit. “I’m paying tax, my staff pay tax, and people [are] making illegal money,” Kaya said, criticising what he sees as a two-tier system that favours criminals over legitimate enterprises.

Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by the BBC reveals that 245 premises in Barking and Dagenham, the highest number for any local authority, were found with illicit products during 2024–25. Yet, the borough did not shut down a single shop during that period. Nationally, fewer than 300 stores were closed under existing powers, which require proof of antisocial or criminal behaviour before temporary closure orders can be granted.

Investigations in east London and Swansea show that illegal stock is often hidden in “stash cars” or concealed behind fake walls. In one east London store, officers uncovered over £5,000 worth of illegal goods during a fourth inspection visit. The shop remained open due to legal limitations preventing swift closures without clear evidence of ongoing nuisance or disorder.

Trading Standards teams say the problem extends well beyond counterfeit tobacco. Officers in Swansea report a dual trade, tobacco by day, drugs by night, with gangs resorting to violence and intimidation. Staff have received threats, and one officer had their car windows smashed.

Immigration enforcement teams are also encountering serious breaches. During a Swansea raid, an Iraqi Kurd asylum seeker was arrested on suspicion of controlling a stash car. He was found working illegally, underscoring concerns over exploitation within the illegal trade. Officers allege that Chinese student visa holders are being coerced into producing counterfeit tobacco, which is then distributed by Kurdish gangs operating mini-marts across Wales and the Midlands.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of anti-smoking charity Ash, acknowledged that although illicit tobacco sales have declined in recent decades, they remain a significant issue. She called on the government to tighten licensing regulations and introduce legislation to limit tobacco sales more broadly, a stance some argue places additional burdens on small retailers already fighting to stay afloat amid increased criminal pressure.

In response, the Home Office said more than 500 town centres will receive extra police patrols aimed at cracking down on the illegal sale of tobacco and vape products. Border Force, it added, intercepted over 97 tonnes of illicit tobacco last year. However, local authorities and enforcement officers say current penalties, even with recent increases allowing for fines of up to £10,000, are often dwarfed by the profits criminals make.

Many of the individuals living near affected areas report feeling unsafe. One lifelong Swansea resident, a dual UK-Chinese citizen named Daniel, said frequent raids and open criminality have left him considering relocating his family to Hong Kong. “It doesn’t make me feel safe. I’ve got kids,” he said.

Though some councils have taken tougher action, the inconsistency in enforcement across the UK has drawn criticism from business owners and local residents alike. Kaya, the Newport shopkeeper, summed up the frustration shared by many: “If this country is not strong, it’s no good for the future.”

The government faces mounting pressure to overhaul the current enforcement framework and provide Trading Standards teams with the tools and authority they need to confront what many now see as a deeply entrenched national problem.