£22,000 haul seized in illegal tobacco trade crackdown
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More than £22,000 worth of illegal tobacco and associated goods have been seized following two recent enforcement days in Walsall.
The coordinated activity forms part of Operation Fearless, an ongoing crackdown by Trading Standards, working alongside West Midlands Police, to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade across the borough.
On Saturday 28 March, officers visited seven shops across Walsall, seizing nearly 12,000 illegal cigarettes and 4.3kg of hand-rolling tobacco, with an estimated retail value of almost £14,000.
This followed enforcement activity earlier in March, which saw officers search seven shops and two associated vehicles. This resulted in the seizure of 6,980 illegal cigarettes, 1.8kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 37 single-use vapes. Additional items, including an offensive weapon and 30 canisters of nitrous oxide, were also taken off the streets by West Midlands Police. The total value of illegal tobacco seized was estimated at nearly £8,000.
Across the operations, officers uncovered concealed stock hidden in a range of locations, including inside bins, under counters and within storerooms.
Since the launch of Operation Fearless in January (2026), more than £100,000 worth of illegal goods have been removed from Walsall’s streets.
A spokesperson for Walsall Council said, “Illegal tobacco poses serious risks to public health, as products are unregulated and may contain higher levels of harmful substances. The trade also undermines legitimate businesses and is often linked to wider criminal activity.”
Further activity will continue as part of Operation Fearless, including targeted visits, specialist search operations and ongoing enforcement action against those involved in the illegal tobacco trade.
Residents are encouraged to report any information about the illegal sale of tobacco or other illicit goods. Information can be passed to the police by calling 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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