Investigators discover illegal cigarettes in every single Wolverhampton shop they visited - with packs selling for just £2.50

Undercover investigators visited 22 shops across Wolverhampton, and managed to purchase illegal tobacco or e-cigarettes at every shop they called out.

The findings have now been handed over to the city's trading standards department.

The operation, carried out by Japan Tobacco International in October, found retailers in the city were selling illegal cigarettes for as little as £2.50 a pack. 

Stores were also found selling vapes up to 25 times those allowed by law.

Premises were visited in 11 areas across the city, including Penn Fields, Merridale, Blakenhall, Bilston, Whitmore Reans, as well as in the city centre.

On one occasion, they found a vape with a capacity of 15,000 puffs - the legal limit is 600. 

Ian Howell, public affairs manager at JTI UK, said: “This undercover operation in Wolverhampton provides further evidence of the substantial threat of illicit tobacco across the UK.

"Not only does illicit trade diminish the income of legitimate retailers, but it also funds criminal activity in our neighbourhoods."

Mr Howell said research over the past year found that unlawful tobacco was prevalent in every large town and city investigated. 

"Lack of sufficient funding and powers for enforcement agencies, combined with years of escalating tobacco duty has contributed to the rapid growth of this black market," he said. 

 Mr Howell said the problem was likely to get worse if the Government proceeded with the planned generational smoking ban. He said it would take business away from law-abiding shops and increase the demand for illegal sales.

He said stamping out the illicit tobacco market should be a top priority for the Government.  

The operation revealed that the typical price for a 50g pack of counterfeit roll-your-own tobacco was between £4 and £5, compared to a usual recommended retail price of £31.25.