Essex County Council and Trading Standards are in the process of leading a ‘crackdown’ on traders selling counterfeit cigarettes.
The crackdown comes at a time where councils across the country are warning against the dangers of counterfeit cigarettes, which have been found to contain asbestos, remains of dead flies, mould and even excrement. The Local Government Association has said that fake cigarettes pose a fire risk, as well as several risks to health.
Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Public Protection Services in Southend-on-Sea said:
“Some people view selling under-the-counter cigarettes as a victimless crime but Trading Standards teams have previously found counterfeit cigarettes containing asbestos and human excrement in the past, posing a massive risk to anyone smoking them.”