The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the seizure of nine million counterfeit cigarettes heading for Burnley.
Such cigarettes were believed to be worth in the region of £1.57m in duty but they were captured at Felixstowe, Suffolk on 5 August.
Chief executive at the ACS James Lowman said that good work was carried out by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) although this is just the surface of the problem.
“More resources are needed at local level to tackle the sale of counterfeit cigarettes such as those in pubs, at car boot sales and on street corners,” he remarked.
Deputy director for the central region of the UKBA Jim Jarvie said that the organisation is attempting to do all it can to ensure that “honest” shopkeepers are not hurt financially by smuggling of cigarettes and other items.
