The Richmond Police Department and Code Enforcement personnel seized thousands of dollars in illegal tobacco and nitrous oxide canisters (“whippets” frequently misused by teens) during two enforcement operations on Friday.
Officers targeted local businesses selling tobacco products without required licenses, police said. Businesses involved in the enforcement operations were not named.
The enforcement comes in the wake of the city’s recent overhaul of tobacco laws that will cap the number of retail licenses at 50 citywide. Prior to this new ordinance, the city identified approximately 83 businesses selling tobacco, 51 of which were operating without a license. The updated regulations reclassify tobacco violations as a public nuisance, granting officials the authority to seize illegal inventory and increase fines to a maximum of $5,000 per violation.
“Selling tobacco products without the proper licensing is a violation of the law and undermines regulations designed to protect public health and ensure responsible business practices,” police said in the wake of the recent enforcement actions. “If convicted, those responsible may face significant fines and penalties.”
