Counterfeit cigarettes stashed in Spalding shop ceiling

A Spalding shop has been fined more than £2,500 at Lincoln Magistrates Court for possessing dangerous counterfeit cigarettes.

A County Council spokesman said “unsafe, incorrectly marked and counterfeit cigarettes” were found in the Nasza Biedronka shop at Sheep Market, Spalding, on September 27.

“A total of 3,640 cigarettes (182 packs of 20) were seized,” the spokesman said.

“The items were seized as part of a joint operation between HMRC, Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police.”

“The tobacco was concealed in hides, located in a ceiling behind a hinged light fitting.”