NEW data from a tobacco manufacturer JTI has shown 13 of the 35 independent shops selling tobacco in the Hodge Hill and Solihull constituency were illegal.
The illegal tobacco products included counterfeit Amber Leaf hand-rolling tobacco, with some 30g pouches being sold for as little as £4.
For comparison, the recommended retail price of a legal 30g pouch of Amber leaf is £27.95.
Other illicit tobacco brands being sold included Minsk, sourced from Belarus, and Topgun, as well as Benson and Hedges.
In the Home Secretary’s Birmingham Ladywood constituency, 17 of the 32 independent shops (53 per cent) visited that sell tobacco, were found to be selling illegal tobacco products.
New research conducted this year shows 68 per cent of Birmingham residents surveyed are concerned about the impact of illegal tobacco on their area.
From October 1 2026, smokers will face a double tobacco duty increase, with the usual annual RPI plus 2 per cent tobacco uplift applied alongside a one-off additional rise on cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, introduced with the new vaping products duty.
Government figures show the one-off increase alone will add £1.21 to a pack of 20 cigarettes and £2.54 to a 30g pouch, creating a sharp price rise that risks pushing more consumers towards the black market.
