More than five million illegal cigarettes have been seized from local retail outlets in the first six months of this year, Trading Standards said. The haul of illicit products included more than 1,700 kg (3,700 lbs) of hand-rolled tobacco and 66 kg of (145 lbs) shisha. In total, more than £2.7 million ($3.7 million) worth of illegal tobacco products have been taken off streets across England and Wales since Operation CeCe, the first joint initiative between National Trading Standards, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), launched in January. Operation CeCe is part of a wider Government strategy to disrupt the illegal tobacco market from front-line retailers to global organised crime groups. National Trading Standards director Wendy Martin said: “Operation CeCe seeks to protect local communities from the harm that the illegal tobacco trade brings. “Beyond the significant effects of tobacco on people’s health, the illicit tobacco trade is often part …