Raids on four Northwich and Winsford premises on 28 October seized 21,140 illegal cigarettes and 3.6kg of hand-rolling tobacco. How to report sales.

Officers seized 21,140 illegal cigarettes and 3.6kg of hand-rolling tobacco from four premises in Northwich and Winsford last week, Cheshire West and Chester Council has said.

The joint operation by the council, the police and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) took place on Wednesday 28 October. The council has not named the four premises or said how the haul was split between the two towns, and it has not said whether anyone has been charged or whether closure orders will follow.

It is the second raid in the borough in a fortnight. Earlier in October officers took 6,400 cigarettes and 1.8kg of tobacco from four shops in Chester and Ellesmere Port, and the council shut Kubus on Frodsham Street, as we reported on 23 October.

What the council says

The council says illegal tobacco undermines legitimate businesses, funds criminal activity and makes it easier for children to get hold of tobacco.

Councillor Stuart Bingham, the cabinet member for community safety and neighbourhood pride, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco harms our communities and puts honest businesses at an unfair disadvantage.

“Illegal tobacco is often linked to wider criminality and can be sold without the safeguards and regulations applied to legitimate products.

“We work closely with our partners to disrupt this type of criminal activity and protect residents. Operations like this send a clear message that the sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated in Cheshire West and Chester.”

The council’s Public Protection team works regularly with Cheshire Police and HMRC to investigate intelligence and act against traders found selling illicit goods, the council said.

How to report illegal tobacco

  • Anonymously, through Crimestoppers: call 0800 555 111 or use the form at crimestoppers-uk.org. This is the route the council gives in this week’s release.
  • Shops trading under a closure order, or selling vapes and tobacco to children, are worth reporting the same way.

Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council news release, 2 November 2026.