Hounslow Council’s Trading Standards officers, supported by the Metropolitan Police, raided 14 shops across the borough on September 1, uncovering thousands of illicit products including illegal vapes and unlicensed erectile dysfunction medication. The operation resulted in the seizure of 1,019 packets of illicit cigarettes—equivalent to more than 20,000 individual cigarettes—along with 440 pouches of hand rolling tobacco, 813 packets of oral tobacco products, 445 vapes, 492 packets and sachets of medicines, and 27 pouches of shisha tobacco.
Coordinated raids across the borough
The coordinated visits were carried out across Hounslow on September 1, with officers from the council’s Trading Standards team and the Metropolitan Police working together. Illicit or counterfeit products were found in 10 of the 14 premises visited. The results were shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) by Hounslow Council.
Among the items seized were flavoured Sildenafil Kamagra Oral Jelly, a medication for erectile dysfunction manufactured in India. Kamagra is not approved for sale in the EU or the UK and is sold online illegally. It contains the same principal ingredient as Viagra and is claimed to work in a similar way, but health risks exist because there is insufficient information on its side effects or precise contents to guarantee safe use.
Other illegal medicines and arrests
The operation also uncovered Sildamax Sidenafil tablets, another erectile dysfunction medication produced in India. Police seized a number of controlled substances during the raids and made several arrests. Investigations into the findings are ongoing.
Trading Standards officers stated that illegal and unregulated tobacco and vape products can pose serious risks to consumers, as they may fail to meet safety standards or contain unknown ingredients. The council noted that these products are often produced in unhygienic conditions and sold at much lower prices than regulated versions. The supply of illegal tobacco is frequently linked to organised crime, including drugs, people trafficking, and illegal immigration.
Council warns rogue traders
Councillor Amy Croft, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Enforcement and Recycling, said: “The sale of illicit tobacco, unregulated vapes, counterfeit products and unsafe medicines puts consumers at risk and undermines the many responsible businesses that operate within the law. Residents have a right to expect that the products being sold in our communities are safe and legitimate.”
“My message to rogue traders is clear: we will continue to pursue and disrupt this activity wherever we find it,” she added.
Residents concerned about the sale of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes, counterfeit goods, or other unsafe products are encouraged to report them via email to tradingstandards@hounslow.gov.uk or anonymously via Citizens Advice.
