Illicit tobacco and vapes worth £50,000 seized from Barnet shops
June 11, 2025
The sophisticated hydraulic lift beneath the flooring of a Barnet store to hide illicit cigarettes (Photo: Barnet Council)
Barnet Council’s Trading Standards officers seized nearly £50,000 worth of illicit cigarettes, rolling tobacco, vapes and shisha during a single day’s worth of shop raids.
The team targeted seven stores on 30 May, with a variety of ‘hides’ for their illicit produce – including one where a sophisticated hydraulic lift had been installed beneath the flooring. The device, operated by small remote control, contained a series of shelves, packed full of illicit cigarettes.
Another venue attempted to hide its illicit goods in a nearby car, but staff were caught out by undercover officers conducting test purchases.
The Trading Standards squad were aided by the Met Police and sniffer dogs, Billy and Ziggy, springer spaniels, aged six.
Their total haul, across the seven stores, was made up of:
- 2,016 packets of cigarettes, made up of 40,320 individual cigarettes – worth £29,232.
- 210 pouches of hand rolling tobacco, weighing in at 10.5kg – worth £9,450.
- 895 illegal vapes – worth £8,950.
- 1.2kg of shisha tobacco – worth £50.
The total value of goods seized was £47,773, and the council said Trading Standards officers are already planning their next day of action.
“Our Trading Standards officers regularly conduct test purchases to ensure Barnet’s shops are trading fairly and not dealing in illegal or counterfeit goods,” Cllr Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet Council, said.
“Barnet should be a safe place for everyone and traders should not be making a quick buck at residents’ expense.”
The council added that the Trading Standards officers will be considering a full range of enforcement actions against the businesses it seized illicit products from during the raids. This includes – upon further investigation – the potential to prosecute, closure orders against problem premises, and more.
To avoid prosecution or closure orders, businesses are advised to only buy from legitimate sources and secure and keep a printed invoice or receipt for all purchases.
