Operations by Hull City Council’s Public Protection officers have seen 718,968 counterfeit cigarettes, tobacco pouches and vapes seized so far in 2026. Working with colleagues in Humberside Police, the team has disrupted sales of illicit products destined for the streets of Hull.
May proved the most prolific month overall so far, with confiscation of 231,420 cigarettes, 1,369 tobacco pouches and 84 vapes. The month saw numbers boosted by work carried out by a detection dog, who sniffed out spurious goods from several well-concealed spots.
The work in the first months of 2026 follows an incredibly successful 2025 for the team. Over the course of the year, they recovered almost 4.1 million cigarettes, 13,114 tobacco pouches and 32,560 vapes.
Cllr Ted Dolman, whose portfolio includes Public Protection, said: “We continue to see fantastic work from this team, taking dangerous goods off the streets as quickly as they arrive. Last year, they were nationally recognised for their work, making it to the final of the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.
“In May, they undertook a large-scale seizure, targeting ten different retail premises with lock up units. Using detection dogs, they managed to unearth these illicit goods from very sophisticated concealments.
“Removing illicit tobacco from sale really is vital. It funds organised crime, prevents people quitting and attracts children due to its price, and does not undergo the same safety checks as legal products.
“Last year was a phenomenal one for the team. They outperformed any other authority within our region, building on the good work of previous years. Figures for seizures so far in 2026, make it clear they are working just as hard this year.
“While we would prefer the city to be free of counterfeit items in the first place, it is extremely good news that the teams are able to seize them so successfully.”
Report someone selling illicit tobacco anonymously to Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or visit keepitout.co.uk and report anonymously online. For free support to stop smoking, search SmokeFree Hull, or call: 01482 977 617.
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