Walsall raids uncover almost 12,000 illegal cigarettes
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Almost 12,000 illegal cigarettes and more than 3kg of hand-rolling tobacco worth an estimated £13,000 have been seized following a coordinated operation targeting the illicit tobacco trade in Walsall.
Walsall Trading Standards officers, West Midlands Police and specialist tobacco detection dogs Griff and Bran searched four retail premises across the borough on Friday 4 September.
The raids form part of Operation Fearless, a joint initiative between Trading Standards and Public Health aiming to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade in Walsall.
Illegal tobacco was discovered at three of the four premises searched, with the specialist dogs helping officers uncover a number of concealments.
At one store, Bran detected a sophisticated compartment behind the upper shelves of a storage unit. The hidden compartment was accessed using a suction cup mechanism which created a vacuum seal. Officers found illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco inside.
At a second premises, Bran identified a concealed compartment hidden behind a metal door in a storeroom. Griff also located a concealment several metres above floor level at a third premises, where illegal cigarettes had been hidden inside a wall cavity.
The operation followed intelligence that illicit tobacco was being sold from the premises. Investigations remain ongoing and further enforcement action may follow.
“ Allowing the illegal tobacco trade to take hold in our communities is simply not an option.
“This operation shows the lengths those involved will go to conceal illegal products, but it also shows the lengths our Trading Standards officers will go to find them. I want to thank our officers, West Midlands Police and the specialist dog team for their hard work. “
Following the raids, residents had the opportunity to meet Griff and Bran at Darlaston Asda to learn more about how specialist detection dogs are being used to help tackle the illegal tobacco trade.
The event also gave residents the chance to speak to Trading Standards and Public Health officers, find out more about the risks associated with illicit tobacco and access free advice and support to stop smoking.
Operation Fearless runs alongside existing enforcement activity and all outcomes will be reported to the local tobacco control partnership to inform future action.
Residents are urged to report any information about the illegal sale of cigarettes, vapes, alcohol or counterfeit goods.
Information about the sale of illegal tobacco can be reported to TradingStandards@walsall.gov.uk.
ENDS
