The human cost of Greater Manchester’s illegal tobacco trade
Reporter: Niall Griffiths
Date published: 17 August 2020
A specially trained sniffer dog helps uncover more illegal tobacco and cigarettes
While the coronavirus lockdown has seen trade slow or stop completely for many businesses in Greater Manchester, the illegal tobacco industry is alive and well.
Thousands of counterfeit products which have continued to be smuggled and sold throughout the pandemic have been uncovered in shops across the city-region.
Bundles of fake cigarettes and rolling tobacco have been seized from secret compartments built behind shelves, walls, cash machines and even above a toilet.
But what is often forgotten is the true cost of illegal tobacco – the lives of the communities and individuals – often children – caught up in the trade.
This is the focus of a new campaign launched today which raises awareness of the industry’s links to human, trafficking, loan sharking and the drugs trade.
Keep It Out reveals that those peddling poisonous products at pocket money prices are often responsible for children developing a lethal addiction which kills one in two people.
Research shows that nearly a quarter of young smokers in Greater Manchester bought cigarettes they knew were illegal, with six out of 10 purchases by under-18s being made at local shops.
Andrea Crossfield is responsible for leading Making Smoking History, a public health programme delivered by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.
“Illegal tobacco might seem like a bargain, but it comes at a high price to our kids and our communities,” she said.
“No one wants their kids to get hooked on smoking but two in three kids who start smoking continue.
“Legal or illegal, all tobacco contains a toxic cocktail of chemicals which will kill one in two long term smokers.
“We also hope the Keep It Out campaign will highlight the bigger picture around illegal tobacco’s links to organised crime and the impact on our neighbourhoods.”
The campaign has also released a powerful short film showing young people buying and smoking illegal tobacco.
It also depicts the darker side of the trade, with gang members and human traffickers vying for control of the product.
But the fightback against illegal tobacco sales in Greater Manchester has begun in earnest.
Since the Keep It Out campaign was initiall launched in 2019 the authorities have received nearly three times more intelligence reports, and have seized almost twice as many cigarettes and hand rolling products.
Kate Pike, who coordinates trading standards offices in the North West, said: “The lengths that people go to, to sell illegal tobacco to children even in school uniform, are quite astonishing.
“But we are working with partners across Greater Manchester to drive down the illicit trade.
“We are encouraging people who care about local families and their neighbourhoods to anonymously get in touch with any information.
“We will take action wherever and whenever we find illegal tobacco being sold.”
The crackdown on illegal tobacco forms part of wider efforts to cut smoking rates across Greater Manchester.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of adults who smoke has fallen to 16 per cent, which is an all-time low.
The sale of illegal tobacco can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or at: keep-it-out.co.uk
Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Just what does the ‘biggest bus change yet’ mean for passengers?
- 2Greater Manchester Police's Operation AVRO officers' hectic day of action in Oldham
- 3Elon Musk weighs in as Labour rejects Oldham’s call for child abuse inquiry
- 4Police searching for Christopher's next of kin
- 5Mountain heroes rescue lost trio