£140k of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized in crackdown on rogue traders
Tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized across the borough this year, highlighting the council’s continued crackdown on rogue traders.
In partnership with Greater Manchester Police, Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team has seized 20,767 packs of illegal cigarettes, 1,418 packets of hand rolled tobacco and 2,812 vapes this year. This has an estimated total value of £145,000.
Councillor Kevin Anderson, portfolio holder for Police, Crime and Civil Contingencies, said: “The vast number of illegal products seized by Trading Standards highlights the team’s relentless work in targeting rogue traders and ensuring our residents feel safe in the products they purchase.
“However, the number of seizures also highlights the scale of the problem; underlining the need for a continued and co-ordinated effort to target those responsible and deter others from this activity.”
With these illegal products putting residents – particularly children – at the risk of harm, the borough’s Community Safety Partnership between Trading Standards, police, and other partners has stepped up enforcement action against those responsible.
In Leigh, Brys Mini Market was closed for three months following repeated seizures of illicit tobacco and vapes. Euroshop in Wigan town centre was closed for more than two months after underage sales and seizures of illicit tobacco.
An individual from Leigh was also prosecuted after 5,100 packs of illicit cigarettes and 1,300 illicit vapes – valued at over £66,000 – were seized. In a separate case, a car found to be storing illegal tobacco was recently seized in Tyldesley.
In other enforcement action, a rogue trader has been prosecuted for taking £37,000 from two residents and will be sentenced next month. This included demanding £10k for poor roofing job in Atherton and £28k from an 80-year-old Leigh resident for work that was never carried out.
Additionally, following nationwide safety concerns and choking hazards from the sale of fake Labubu toys, the council’s Trading Standards team have seized 1,800 items of the counterfeit goods that were on sale in shops across the borough.
Highlighting further work to protect residents, Trading Standards also operate a Neighbourhood Champions initiative to help tackle rogue traders calling uninvited at people’s homes.
So far, 22 volunteers have signed up to give advice to residents in their neighbourhoods and help protect them from doorstep crime, with more than 3,000 houses visited across the borough.
Trading Standards also operate the Good Trader Scheme, which helps residents find reputable traders for a range of domestic services, using verified reviews to give consumers confidence and reassurance in their choices. With more than 160 local traders vetted and around 30,000 resident enquiries per year, it is one of the largest local authority run trader schemes in the country.
Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for Planning, Environmental Services and Transport, added: “The investigations, vetting, and enforcement action undertaken by our Trading Standards team highlights their tireless work in tackling unscrupulous traders and deceitful businesses.
“Often going under the radar, the team’s work is vital in keeping residents protected from unsafe work and, harmful, often illegal goods, and I encourage all residents to report concerns of rogue traders to Trading Standards or the police.”
For more information visit Trading Standards.
Posted on Wednesday 24th December 2025