Police 'must do more' to stop Triad tobacco gangs

BRITAIN'S police forces aren't doing enough to clamp down on a crime gang linked to Triads which is believed to be operating across the country, according to a former senior detective.

- Jon Austin

Dave McKelvey said his private investigation firm had prosecuted four members of the China-based group, involved in producing dangerous fake tobacco, because neither police nor HMRC chose to take on the case.

TM Eye uncovered the crime network after it was asked by a tobacco manufacturer to investigate a seizure at Stansted airport of thousands of empty fake tobacco pouches that arrived from Hong Kong.

The empty holders are imported by the group before tobacco from an unknown source is used to fill them. They are then heat wrapped in plastic to appear like a genuine product, before being distributed for sale, often through small shops.

Counterfeit tobacco products often contain contaminants, including asbestos, which pose severe health risks.

Although it was seized by UK Border Force, HMRC which is responsible for investigating the smuggled and fake tobacco trade due to the billions of pounds it costs the Treasury - did not launch an investigation.

Mr McKelvey, a former Met Police DCI, said his private detectives have since spent more than five years investigating the organised crime network.