Counterfeit alcohol and tobacco with a street value of more than £14,000 was seized by council officials over a four year period, figures have revealed.
The contraband captured by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team included more than 37,000 cigarettes and 22kg of tobacco.
The scale of the seizures, between 2010/11 and 2013/14, was revealed in a Freedom of Information request by Plaid Cymru, which also showed that eight people were prosecuted.
South East Wales AM, and Penyrheol councillor, Lindsay Whittle warned people not to buy cheap, counterfeit alcohol and tobacco, citing dangers to people’s health.
Mr Whittle, who is a member of the Welsh Assembly’s Health Committee, said: “While some of this counterfeit booze and tobacco can be very cheap compared to the real thing, people don’t know what they are buying and it might lead to health problems.
“For instance, some vodka tested in South Wales contained iso-propanol, which is a colourless and flammable chemical compound, which has in the past been used as a solvent for coatings or for industrial processes. In addition, the sale of counterfeit tobacco and alcohol can have a serious impact on the viability of bona fide businesses which follow the rules.”
He also praised the work of the Caerphilly’s Trading Standards department and urged them to continue their great work to protect the public.
£3,500 a year? not exactly earth shattering considering in the magnitude of the song and dance made about how dangerous counterfeit tobacco and alcohol is, and, we are told it can kills, well, here`s news for everyone, `Tobacco and alcohol Kills` conterfeit or not, the difference is the one drinkers and smokers pay proper TAX and DUTY on kills legally!!!!!!.