JTI has updated its trade website, JTI Advance, with a free online tool that allow retailers to find out how their local area is affected by illicit tobacco.

The ‘Postcode calculator’ can tell retailers how many seizures and/or prosecutions have taken place near their location since 2017, including estimates of the quantity and total value of illegal tobacco reported. Retailers just need to enter their postcode online to view the figures.

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There is also the option to expand the search to cover the wider area (e.g. from Luton to East of England) to view the percentage of non-UK duty paid cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco in their region, versus the UK average. 

Ian Howell, UK anti-illicit trade manager at JTI, said: “Illicit tobacco remains a serious problem and this new feature on our microsite is the latest development from JTI to support retailers in the fight against this issue. Our hope is that this new tool will enable retailers to remain vigilant and raise awareness of the scale of the problem in their local area.

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“As well as keeping retailers informed, we are also hopeful that it will help raise awareness of illicit trade and its effects on communities across the country. We also want to encourage retailers to report any suspected sellers in their area, through the anonymous reporting function on the microsite.”

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