Huge haul of cigarettes and tobacco found in shop raids

Four shops were targeted by Walsall Council and police who gathered the haul - thought to be a mixture of counterfeit and goods where duty has not been paid - with the help of sniffer dogs from Wagtail.

In total 16,160 cigarettes were uncovered along with 389 packets of hand rolling tobacco in Walsall. The largest single haul from one shop where officers found 13,400 cigarettes and 111 packets of tobacco.

Peter Cole, spokesman for Walsall Council, said: "Officers believe they are a mixture of counterfeit goods and good where duty has not been paid."

Walsall Council Regulatory Services' Savvy Shopper ?account tweeted: "No Sunday rest if selling dodgy gear in Walsall. Trad Stds, HMRC & police out seizing baccy & alcohol."

A full investigation is now being carried out by trading standards following Sunday's raids, Mr Cole said.

It is the latest haul of dodgy goods to be seized in the Black Country. Last month, a series of raids were carried out in Wolverhampton in a crackdown on illegal tobacco.

Eight shops were targeted along Dudley Road, Blakenhall, after months of investigations.

In total, officers seized £5,000 of illicit cigarettes, chewing tobacco and blunts and 21 boxes of packets of chewing tobacco and three boxes of packets of the banned 'oral tobacco' from two premises.

While in November, more than 61,000 illegal cigarettes worth £29,000-plus were seized during a raid on eight shops across West Bromwich. In one shop officials said a haul of illegal tobacco was being kept behind a 'sophisticated steel door' forcing them to call in a locksmith to get it open.