19/07/2023 - 1,500 illicit products seized by Luton Trading Standards and HMRC

A total of 949 tobacco products were seized, along with 165 non-duty paid or smuggled bottles of wine plus 416 foreign labelled medicines, which included prescription-only medicines.

Among these medicines were strong opiates such as Tramadol and a drug from the Benzodiazepine family. Xanax was also included in the seizure, a drug often prescribed for treating anxiety and insomnia, as well as for controlling seizures caused by epilepsy. These products should only be prescribed by medical professionals, such as GPs and pharmacists.

Further action may now be taken against the six premises, ranging from HMRC Civil penalties for evasion of duty to enforcement action and Licence reviews under the Licensing Act 2003. Landlords of properties will be notified of their tenants’ non-compliant trading. Landlords who choose to turn a blind eye to continuing non-compliant trading from their tenants may be pursued for proceeds of crime.

Councillor Maria Lovell, Portfolio Holder for Women, Equalities and Community Safety at Luton Council said “The nature and variety of the illicit products seized is startling. I commend the efforts of Luton Trading Standards and HMRC in clamping down on the sale of these illegal products. Their efforts keep our community safe by ensuring that unregulated, therefore potentially dangerous substances, are not inadvertently bought by Luton residents.”

“I particularly urge businesses who sell alcohol to ensure that they have supplier invoices for all alcohol purchased. It is not acceptable to buy alcohol from unapproved suppliers.”

If anyone knows of any shop selling non-duty paid tobacco products and vapes that are more than 600 puffs or are also involved in the sale of vapes containing nicotine to those under 18 years old, please report in confidence to https://keep-it-out.co.uk/.