Lewisham Council is advising residents to be wary about buying cheap hand-rolling tobacco from unregulated sources.
Officers from the Council have seized significant amounts of counterfeit Golden Virginia hand-rolling tobacco from itinerant sellers who are targeting customers at pubs and betting shops, as well as approaching people on the street.
The tobacco does not meet the standards set down by the UK Government for permitted levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. There are concerns it may possibly contain additional chemicals and other substances that are hazardous to peoples' health.
Lesley Seary, Executive Director for Customer Services, said: “Buying counterfeit goods, whatever they are, is a waste of money. The goods are shoddy copies of the real thing, even if it seems like a bargain at the time.
“If you are offered any counterfeit goods, don’t support it, report it".
The tobacco pouches are labelled with German health warnings, giving customers the impression that the tobacco is imported from the continent. The tobacco content of the pouches will differ in quality and taste to that of legitimate tobacco as it is believed to be imported from Asia and originally destined for processing into Chinese cigarettes.
Counterfeiting is a criminal activity, and the people involved in the distribution of counterfeit tobacco are seeking to make a quick profit on a large scale.
Consumers should also only buy from legitimate sources. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
It is illegal to sell counterfeit goods and itinerant sellers are breaking the law if they attempt to do so, be it in a pub, food outlet or on the street. Anyone offered counterfeit goods should report it to Lewisham Council on 07933 758 874 (24 hour voicemail).