Non-duty-paid cigarettes

Request

1. How many retailers in your area have been found to have sold non-duty-paid cigarettes in 2022/23?
a. If data is available, please provide the value of the cigarettes seized (2022/23)

2. How many retailers in your area have been found to have sold non-duty-paid cigarettes in 2023/24?
a. If data is available, please provide the value of the cigarettes seized (2023/24)

3. How many retailers in your area have been found to have sold non-duty-paid cigarettes in 2024/25?
a. If data is available, please provide the value of the cigarettes seized (2024/25)

4. How many retailers in your area have been found to have sold non-duty-paid cigarettes in 2025/26 so far?
a. If data is available, please provide the value of the cigarettes seized (2025/26)
 

Decision

1-4) Seizure figures are not broken down to solely non-duty paid.  The majority of seized cigarettes will be counterfeit or not for the UK market.  Non-duty paid will be included in the below figures but we are unable to break this down. 

The following provides the seizures figures for all cigarettes, tobacco and vapes seized and the number of premises seized from. 

Year

Number of premises seized from

Products Seized by Type

2022-23

44

Cigarettes – 404,993 sticks (20,250 packs)

Tobacco – 54,350g (1,087 packs)

Vapes – 9,430

2023-24

42

Cigarettes – 130,680 sticks (6,534 packs)

Tobacco – 235,250g (4,705 packs)

Vapes – 11,959

2024-25

53

Cigarettes – 798,926 sticks (39,946 packs)

Tobacco – 189,510g (3,790 packs)

Vapes – 13,604

2025-26

(to 20/02/2026)

36

Cigarettes – 674,354 sticks (33,718 packs)

Tobacco – 329,400g (6,588 packs)

Vapes – 3,668

Reference number
FOI 15395641
Date request received
09/02/26
Date of decision
26/02/26