October 2, 2018 10.04 am This story is over 65 months old

Illegal tobacco seized in Boston sledge hammer raid

The operation targeted two retail outlets
Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Police Licencing Officers seized a large quantity of cigarettes during an operation in Boston. Photo: Lincolnshire Trading Standards

Lincolnshire Trading Standards seized illegal tobacco and alcohol in an operation targeting two retail outlets in Boston on Monday.

The Lincolnshire Police licensing team also attended the raid where significant quantities of illegal or non-duty paid items were discovered at retail outlets including Europe Express on West Street and another address on Red Lion Street in Boston.

Lincolnshire Trading Standards said the hides are becoming “increasingly sophisticated, requiring sledge hammers to reveal them”.

Trading Standards Officers were involved in the operation targeting two retail outlets in Boston. Photo: Lincolnshire Trading Standards

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Trading Standards said: “Our Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Police Licensing Officers have been involved in an operation targeting two retail outlets, in West Street and in Red Lion Street, Boston.

“We discovered significant quantities of illegal or non-duty paid items at each address. On West Street, officers raided Europe Express, where a large quantity of illegal cigarettes were discovered in a hidden compartment towards the rear of the property, while non-duty paid beer and alcohol was seized from a second address on Red Lion Street, Boston.

“Both premises were targeted thanks to intelligence provided by members of the public. The success of today’s operation highlights just how important it is people come forward with information to help get these illegal and very often dangerous items off the streets.”

Recent Spalding incident

As previously reported, more than 100,000 illegal cigarettes and up to 50kg of tobacco were also seized in recent raids in Spalding.

The illegal goods were found at the Baltic shop and in vehicles parked outside the Europe Store on Holbeach Road.

Two sniffer dogs were used in the raids, but the floor at the Baltic was covered in spices as part of a deliberate attempt to confuse and distract the dogs.