Crackdown on illegal tobacco trade

Customs officers will be given new powers to stop and search any person suspected of selling illegal tobacco.

The officers will also be allowed to rummage through bags that are believed to be used to peddle counterfeit or smuggled produce. Measures listed at the end of the department’s budget pack detailed the plan to cut down on the illegal trade in cigarettes.

This is likely to see increased raids on casual trading at markets and fairs. “[Under the new plans] Revenue can require a person suspected of illegal selling of tobacco products to stop, and to permit and facilitate a search of any baggage or other thing the person has with them, and which is reasonably believed to contain tobacco products concerned in the offence,” the budget documents said.