Police have seized more than £31,000 worth of illegal tobacco following a coordinated crackdown in the Broadgreen area.
The operation, carried out in partnership between Wiltshire Police, HMRC, and Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, is part of the wider Brighter Broadgreen initiative aimed at tackling crime and improving the local community.
Acting on intelligence, officers swept the area on Monday (4th March), with a specialist sniffer dog leading them to two parked cars suspected of storing illegal tobacco. Both vehicles were promptly seized and towed away, with further investigations now underway.
The operation also saw Trading Standards officers visit two retail premises—one on Manchester Road and another on Fleet Street—where illicit vapes valued at approximately £2,000 were confiscated from one of the stores.
Sergeant Winter of Swindon Central South Neighbourhood Policing Team highlighted the broader impact of the illegal tobacco trade, stating:
“The sale of illicit tobacco funds organised crime, which is often linked to child exploitation, people trafficking, modern slavery, and illegal working. These activities cause significant harm within our communities.”
“People may not realise the wider consequences when they buy cheap, illegal tobacco, but in doing so, they are enabling organised criminals to operate and put vulnerable people at risk.”
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, praised the joint effort between agencies and underlined the health risks posed by illegal tobacco.
“This operation is a fantastic example of Trading Standards working alongside Wiltshire Police, HMRC, and the Regional Tobacco Coordinator to make our communities safer and promote better health.”
“Illegal tobacco does not meet the same manufacturing standards as regulated products and has been found to contain harmful and banned substances. Removing such a large quantity from circulation is a significant success.”
The seized products will now be processed as part of further investigations, with enforcement action expected to follow.
