Suspected illegal tobacco and vapes bought in test purchases

Leading manufacturer Japan Tobacco International (JTI) gave the Telegraph & Argus exclusive access to watch a series of these unannounced visits occur - damningly exposing the scale of the problem across the city.

In one instance, a trap door at a Bradford shop was reportedly being used to pass the illegal products to shop workers upon a customer's request.

Ian Howell and Giles Pierce, both of JTI, wade through the findings of the investigation (Image: Newsquest)

What do JTI do?

Last week, the JTI team visited 50 shops across the district in the space of five hours.

Thanks to a solid level of intelligence, indications were provided to the company of businesses thought to be selling illegal tobacco, so the test purchases were conducted at these locations.

JTI feels its independent investigations are needed to bring to light the issue which effectively is taking money from their own pockets.

The evidence is then passed on to Trading Standards.

An example of the suspected illegal tobacco found (Image: Newsquest)

Types of illegal tobacco

The T&A heard how there are currently three main types of illegal tobacco being sold; counterfeit, contraband, and illicit whites.

The biggest counterfeit seller was the rolling tobacco, Amber Leaf - with scores of the 50g packages easily purchasable from the shops.

A product that currently retails at around the £38 mark was widely available for just £4.

Upon inspection, despite the almost identical packaging, the suspected counterfeit products clearly felt a lot softer and bittier compared to the much firmer real stuff.

Benson & Hedges is a popular tobacco brand often used in counterfeits (Image: Newsquest)

Vapes and fake £5 notes

A number of suspected illegal vapes were also bought to illustrate how much of an issue that is becoming.

Puff rates ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 were bought over the counter - including one called 'The Gummy Bear' with a rather menacing character on the label.

It is names like these and other branded sweets that are used to entice users into buying them for their favoured taste.

A few shops, selling suspected illegal tobacco, were also seen to be providing customers with reportedly fake £5 notes in their change.

One of the suspected illegal vapes bought (Image: Newsquest)

T&A witnesses the investigation

The investigator called it a "numbers game" with so many shops selling illegal tobacco across Bradford.

The T&A was taken down several key Bradford roads which each had six or seven shops partaking.

These were roads close to the city centre which attract their custom through passing trade.

Meanwhile, we were also taken into one of Bradford's most deprived estates, showing the problem is widespread, also attracting local residents preferring the cheaper fakes than the legitimate product.

The shops often looked identical to each other with pictures of chocolate bars and fizzy drinks stuck on the main windows.

Several packets of suspected illegal cigarettes purchased (Image: Newsquest)

How shopkeepers conceal the illegal products

The "clever" ways in which these shops conceal the illegal products was also damming to see.

In one instance, a worker accessed the boot of a car parked outside the shop to retrieve the illegal tobacco when a customer requested to purchase it.

This is said to be a common practice with isolated car parks often used.

The T&A also heard stories of shopkeepers hiding the products behind nappies and plug sockets.

Ordinarily, the expectation is that, when a customer enters a shop, they will leave with their desired products visible in their hands.

The investigator said a major indicator that a shop sells illegal tobacco is when numerous customers go into the shop with nothing and come out with nothing.

The consumer is keen to hide the fact that a dodgy product has been purchased, added the investigator.

The victims, of course, are the genuine shopkeepers who lose out on sales due to this illegal trading.

Over 50 shops across Bradford were visited (Image: Newsquest)

'It is high reward and low risk'

JTI estimated that £21 billion is being spent on tobacco in the UK every year and at least £6 billion of that is on illegal products.

Ian Howell, JTI Public Affairs Manager, would like to see firmer punishment for the offenders and suggested "on the spot fines of up to £10,000".

"This would hurt them financially," he told the Telegraph & Argus.

"It is currently high reward and low risk," added Giles Pierce, JTI Anti Illicit Trade Operations Manager.

"As tax goes up, people find alternatives. Don't put taxes up as it will drive people to the illegal market."