Businesses and individuals found to be selling illicit tobacco will now receive a fine of up to GBP 10,000, reports Wales 247.

The new sanctions came into effect on 20 July with the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Trading Standards Officers now able to refer businesses or individuals who have been caught selling illicit tobacco to the HMRC for further investigation. According to Wales 247, the HMRC will then administer penalties and ensure the appropriate sanction is applied and enforced.
Businesses found to be supplying products which contravene Tobacco Track & Trace (TT&T) could face fines between GBP 2,500 and GBP 10,000. They could also have their products seized and Economic Operator ID revoked which in turn means losing their license to buy tobacco for resale in the UK.
The new sanctions are the result of a joint effort between HMRC and National Trading Standards to tackle the illicit tobacco trade. The so-called Operation CeCe has successfully removed 27 million illicit cigarettes and 7,500 kg of hand rolling tobacco from sale in its first two years, reports Wales 247.
Illicit tobacco sales costs the exchequer more than GBP 2 billion in lost tax revenue each year while causing damage to legitimate businesses and undermining public health.