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Alert as fake ciggies found
THOUSANDS of fake cigarettes were recovered in North Shore.
Trading Standards officers raided a house on Clinton Avenue where the counterfeit stash was discovered.
Council officials are now warning fake cigarettes do not undergo the same quality checks as normal ones and can be very damaging to health.
Tim Coglan, Blackpool's head of Trading Standards, said: "We operate a zero tolerance approach to counterfeit cigarettes. No duty is paid on such items and so legitimate businesses are disadvantaged.
"But there's also a very serious health risk, not just because of smoking but we have found extraordinary levels of carciogenics in counterfeit cigarettes."
The raid follows a lengthy covert operation by officers.
It is believed counterfeit cigarettes circulating the Fylde come from China but are distributed and assembled in the UK.
When The Gazette joined undercover officers they also seized 500 of fireworks which were not being stored according to regulation.
Mr Coglan added: "Fireworks should be stored in locked containers and there are limits as to how much you can store. It's a major public safety issue and people found not complying with licensing laws will find little sympathy."
Call Trading Standards on (01253) 478375 or confidentially on hotline 0800 073 0628.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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