Blackpool Council finds 45 retailers selling illegal tobacco and confiscates £64,800-worth of goods
More than 2,000 UK retailers have been caught selling illegal cigarettes in the past year, according to new Freedom of Information (FOI) data, with Blackpool among the areas highlighted.
The data, analysed by nicotine pouch experts Alternix, reveals the scale of the illegal cigarette trade across the country and raises concerns about the widespread availability of non-duty-paid tobacco products despite ongoing enforcement efforts. Issues around product safety and quality control have also been flagged.
The figures show that Blackpool Council identified 45 retailers selling non-duty-paid cigarettes, placing the area tenth highest in the UK for the number of offending businesses. The area also ranks twenty-sixth nationally for the value of seized goods, with £64,800 worth of non-duty-paid cigarettes confiscated so far in the 2025/26 financial year.
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Perhaps most striking is the sharp rise in cases locally. Since the 2022/23 financial year, Blackpool has seen a 650% increase in retailers selling illegal cigarettes, the eighth highest increase recorded anywhere in the UK.
The national picture reflects a growing problem. Across the UK, more than 2,000 retailers were found to be selling non-duty-paid cigarettes in 2025/26 alone.
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David Phillips, from Alternix, says: “Illicit tobacco continues to present a significant challenge in the UK. These products bypass the regulations designed to protect consumers and reduce harm, making it harder to achieve meaningful progress on smoking cessation rates.
“Encouraging smokers to switch to regulated, smoke-free alternatives is a critical part of the solution, but that can only happen effectively within a well-enforced and properly regulated market. If we want to tackle this issue, there needs to be a balanced approach, allowing adult smokers to make better choices”.
Liverpool has emerged as the country’s biggest hotspot, with 125 retailers identified this year. Newport and Lancashire follow in second and third place, with 106 and 92 retailers respectively found to be selling illegal cigarettes.
Elsewhere, some areas have seen dramatic increases over recent years. Hertfordshire recorded the largest rise, with a 2,220% increase in offending retailers since 2022/23.
In terms of enforcement value, Rochdale has seized the highest total worth of illegal cigarettes so far in 2025/26, at nearly £1.3 million. Medway and Staffordshire also feature among the highest for seized goods.
The data also highlights significant increases in the value of seizures in some areas. Haringey, for example, has seen a rise of more than 65,000% compared to 2022/23.
While enforcement action continues across the UK, the figures underline the persistent and growing nature of the illegal tobacco trade — with Blackpool among the areas experiencing a notable rise in activity.