THE widespread problem of small shops selling 'under the counter' cheap cigarettes has been laid bare with 19 out of 31 premises visited allowing the purchase of illegal tobacco.

In March alone, seven such premises in Bolton had their operating licence either revoked or suspended after council hearings resulting from test purchases by a tobacco firm.

During an operation to crack down on the sale of illegal tobacco Gallaher Ltd, who produce several leading UK brands, sent officers wearing covert cameras into dozens of Bolton corner shops, off licences and convenience stores.

In a report to Bolton Council's licensing panel, Gallagher Ltd outlined the scale of the issue in the borough of Bolton.

It said: "Last year we undertook test purchases in Bolton to assess the types of tobacco products available through retail outlets.

"They visited 31 outlets and were able to buy illegal tobacco in 19 of them.

"Packs of cigarettes were on sale for as little as £4.50, half the price of the cheapest legal cigarettes.

"Counterfeit 50g packs of roll your own could be purchased for as little as £5, one fifth of the price of the genuine product."

The report added: "Sales of tobacco products through these stores damage legitimate businesses and revenue and encourage wider criminality."

As a result of the covert operations council officers seized tobacco from several shops in Bolton.

In some cases, canisters of nitrous oxide or laughing gas, believed to be on sale for recreational drug use were also confiscated.

The council's licensing committee has been conducting a series of premises licence review hearings into shops caught out by the sting operations.

In March premises licences associated with three shops were revoked after illegal tobacco was sold by them.

They were for Morris Green Mini-Mart, Morris Green Lane, Ramiros, St Helens Road and Breightmet Off Licence, Bury Road.

Sanctions were also placed on four other convenience stores.

Best One, 836 Bury Road had a licence suspension for one month while Best One, Lever Street were hit with a eight week suspension.

Both M&M Mini Market, Halliwell Road and Biedrona, Deane Road were given licence suspensions of three months.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “This council has a zero-tolerance policy towards illicit tobacco.

“Illegal cigarettes are sold at low cost, often to young children, and represent a serious risk to public health.

“By avoiding excise duty, the sale of smuggled or counterfeit tobacco also deprives our valuable public services, including the NHS, of much needed funding.

“This distribution of illicit tobacco has strong links to organised crime, what may seem like a harmless way to buy cheap cigarettes could be help fund other serious and violent criminal activity.

“We continue to work with our partners to clamp down on the sale of these products and we will use all the enforcement powers at our disposal against those responsible.

“Concerned members of the public are our best resource in the fight against illicit tobacco.

"If you suspect a shop is involved in this illegal practice, please report it via the Keep-It-Out website.”

HM Revenue and Customs estimate that the sale of illegal tobacco in the UK has resulted in a tax revenue loss of £46 billion since 2000.