SIR – With the recently reported court cases about Bradford being a hotspot for trading in illicit tobacco products (T&A, July 30) I would like to echo the words of Cllr Valerie Slater in condemning this activity in illegal tobacco products.

The illicit tobacco supply chain has no qualms who they sell to and any control over sales to young children is non-existent with not only their health at risk but also a large financial loss to the country.

The Exchequer records losses of excise duty and VAT at £2.9billion per year or £8million per day from the trade, a proportion of which is often used to finance other criminal activities.

The UK packaging industry with two operations in Bradford has long been pointing out the Government’s decision, supported by the Labour opposition, to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products from May 2016 will only lead to an increase in the counterfeit trade as it has done in Australia. Dealing in illicit cigarettes is often perceived as a “Robin Hood” tax evasion activity but in reality has very serious consequences for the country.

Mike Ridgway, Consumer Packaging Manufacturers Alliance, Ghyll Wood, Ilkley