The distribution of illegal cigarettes indicates a more profound issue affecting

The distribution of illegal cigarettes indicates a more profound issue affecting UK high streets.

BBC A modified image depicting a collection of red, opened cigarette boxesBBC

It is completely dark, and we are navigating through a concealed underground tunnel located beneath a high street in Hull. We encounter decaying beams precariously supported by stacked breeze blocks. A corroded car jack is assisting in preventing the shop floor above from collapsing.

Amidst the debris, we trail a Trading Standards Officer, whose flashlight swings back and forth in the gloom until it illuminates a concealed cache of thousands of illegal cigarettes.

This represents merely one of the bizarre encounters experienced while probing into the sale of illegal cigarettes in Hull. Over the course of a week, we consistently observed counterfeit and smuggled tobacco being sold in high street mini marts - and faced threats from shop employees who seized our cameras when we attempted to record them.

This narrative has become a common occurrence throughout Britain. In April, the National Crime Agency (NCA) conducted raids on numerous high street establishments, many of which were suspected of being supplied by international crime syndicates. Additionally, Trading Standards teams have uncovered a flourishing market for illicit tobacco.