Illegal cigarettes worth £150,000 found hidden in toilets and walk-in fridge during raids across Wolverhampton

Potentially lethal products were found hidden in the ceiling of a toilet as well as in a fuse box connected to a walk-in fridge.

The haul was confiscated in the latest raids authorised by Wolverhampton council and included more than 16,000 suspected fake and duty free cigarettes as well as hand rolling tobacco and shisha.

Shops were raided across Wolverhampton including some in the Whitmore Reans and Penn Fields area.

The latest raids on September 12 formed part of Operation Riposte. Officers were assisted by sniffer dogs which were able to locate the concealed goods.

Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton council's cabinet member for city environment,

said: "Operation Riposte acts on valuable information we receive from the community about shops which put people's lives at risk from selling dangerous smuggled cigarettes and alcohol.

"Far from being harmless, these products are supplied by unscrupulous gangs who often fill them with highly dangerous chemicals which can kill."

So far the operation has seen the seizure of more than a 330,000 smuggled cigarettes, large quantities of tobacco and smuggled alcohol.

Councillor Evans added: "When traders sell tobacco products at well below the normal street value it undermines the work done by the council and NHS to help people to stop smoking.

"It also makes the products available to youngsters."

Wolverhampton council said it will review the evidence and 'take action wherever possible.'