vapes-in-bins

Illegal vapes, cigarettes and tobacco worth over £12,000 were discovered beneath “rotting waste” in wheelie bins, Darlington Trading Standards revealed.

Durham Constabulary’s Neighbourhood Police Team received intelligence that suggested commercial waste bins in side streets and back lanes were being used as off-site storage for illegal products.

During surveillance, police spotted a staff member from a nearby store accessing a bin to remove cigarettes, prompting officers to quickly secure the bin.

They then alerted Darlington Council’s Trading Standards team, who attended and seized the illegal goods.

A follow up visit by officers found a wheelie bin in a back lane behind shops being used to store more illegal goods.

In total, 685 packs of cigarettes, 24 packs of hand-rolling tobacco and 83 illegal vapes, with a total retail value of more than £12,000, were removed as part of the two seizures.

“On opening the bin there was a strong smell of rotting waste and a large quantity of bags with illegal vapes and cigarettes,” said Shaun Trevor, Darlington Trading Standards manager.

“Once removed there was normal household waste underneath. I don’t think customers would be happy seeing how these were being stored.”

Commenting on the seizures, Darlington Neighbourhood Inspector David Littlefair said: “Illicit and dangerous tobacco and vapes can not only cause serious harm to people’s health, but the proceeds are often invested into organised crime and can help fund more serious offences.

“We are grateful for the support of members of the public who have come forward with valuable pieces of information to help tackle this issue.”

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