More illicit tobacco and “laughing gas” have been taken off Bolton’s streets as the council continues to clamp down on these harmful products.
The items were seized in joint shop raids by officers from Bolton Council’s licensing and trading standards teams, and Greater Manchester Police.
A specially trained sniffer dog was used to detect concealed illicit tobacco - smuggled or counterfeit products with no duty paid on them.
The sale of such products does not contribute tax to the NHS, has links to organised crime and a lower price encourages under-age customers to take up smoking.
One retailer was also displaying canisters of the potentially dangerous gas nitrous oxide alongside balloons, suggesting it was being sold for recreational use.
Nitrous oxide is a legal product that can be sold for legitimate use in the catering industry.
However, it can also be used as a recreational psychoactive drug when inhaled from a balloon.
Popular with young people, the practice can cause dizziness and hallucinations, as well as the risk of it leading to dependency on hard drugs and alcohol.
Let us be perfectly clear, there is no place in Bolton for the sale of these illegal and highly dangerous products.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environment Regulatory Services, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said:
“Let us be perfectly clear, there is no place in Bolton for the sale of these illegal and highly dangerous products.
“This is a real crime with real consequences for the health of Bolton residents, particularly young people.
“I assure those who continue to flout this law that the consequences for them will be suitably severe.
“Not only will we be pushing for the toughest legal penalties against the shop owners responsible, but they face losing their license to sell alcohol.”
Anyone who suspects a retailer of selling illegal tobacco can report it anonymously via the Keep it Out website directly to Bolton Council Trading Standards.