Lincolnshire Police along with partners including Trading Standards, Lincolnshire County Council, local Councils and Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue have recently launched Operation Nivada – a campaign to stop illicit tobacco sales.

Shops selling these illegal goods are often a front for other serious criminality such as money laundering, illegal working, human trafficking, and drug supply. Many of the shop workers are victims, trafficked into crime by profiteers. These illegal activities harm legitimate businesses and fund further crimes, often monopolising high street spaces, driving out lawful small businesses. Our communities bear the brunt, facing anti-social behaviour, underage sales, and drug offences.

The sale of illicit tobacco products isn’t just a public health issue — Lincolnshire Police and partners are tackling these highly complex crimes head-on. 

Criminals go to great lengths to hide their illicit goods. Many of these shops are run by highly coordinated organised criminal gangs - underscoring the gravity and sophistication of the criminal activities we're confronting in the battle against illicit tobacco sales.

You can help us by reporting instances of illegal tobacco sales or associated criminality. Reporting helps us to build a better intelligence picture, to better evidence criminal activity, and to proactively disrupt these organised criminals.

Reporting is easy via CrimeStoppers. It's 100% anonymous:

Call: 0800 555 111

Give information online via: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information