Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards led a two‑day enforcement operation that ran on 5–6 February 2026, seizing an estimated £29,500 worth of illegal goods and uncovering dangerous housing conditions.
The joint operation involved Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards, Portsmouth Police, a specialist tobacco‑detection dog from The Nose Knows, Portsmouth Community Wardens and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Officers seized £21,300 in counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes, £5,600 in counterfeit hand‑rolling tobacco and £2,600 in single‑use (disposable) vapes. Illegal tobacco was recovered from four vehicles linked to shops across the city, including Kingston Mini Market, New King Mart and Bucharest Shop, with additional items removed from premises such as Albert Food Store, Highland Mini Market, Vape City and Pompey Blues.
The single‑use vape items are prohibited under The Environmental Protection (Single‑use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 1 June 2025. During the enforcement action officers also discovered residents living in unsafe conditions above a commercial premises. The council’s Private Sector Housing team and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service intervened and a prohibition notice was issued because of serious fire safety risks.
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport, said: “This operation sends a clear message that illegal tobacco, illicit vapes and unsafe living conditions will not be tolerated in Portsmouth. Our officers and partners acted swiftly to protect residents and ensure these dangerous products were removed from our streets. We will continue to take robust action against any business putting profits before people’s safety.”
Investigations remain ongoing. The council has urged residents to report information about the sale of illegal tobacco, vapes or unsafe products to [email protected] or via the Keep It Out website.
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