WATCH: Moment clever Wolverhampton sniffer dog Griff uncovers hoard of illegal vapes and cigarettes inside vehicle
The moment a clever sniffer dog unearthed a stash of illegal vapes and tobacco in the back of a BMW in Wolverhampton.
Griff helped City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team and Wolverhampton Police sniff out illicit goods not only in shops but even in the boot of a car.
A video of Griff in action, recorded by Stu Phillips K9, has been shared online by the council.
The operation, launched after public complaints, saw authorities seize 38,840 cigarettes, 347 disposable vapes, and 17kg of hand-rolling tobacco.
Counterfeit perfumes, unsafe toys, prescription-only medication, and fake energy drinks were also recovered.
If genuine, the seized tobacco would have a retail value of £45,958, with duty evaded estimated at £23,415.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We are determined to clamp down on the sales of counterfeit products in the city.
"As we head towards Christmas it is particularly important that we stop the sale of items which are unsafe for our younger residents.
“This successful operation forms part of our wider strategy in dealing with this issue and we will continue to carry out targeted action days and routine test purchases.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in this successful partnership operation, including our Trading Standards team, Wolverhampton Police and the reliable nose of tobacco detection dog Griff from Stu Phillips K9.”
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people.
“Since its launch, Operation CeCe – a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC that City of Wolverhampton Council, part of CEnTSA (Central England Trading Standards Authorities), supports – has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK.”
The action was part of the national Trading Standards initiative, Operation CeCe. Investigations are continuing to trace the suppliers of the illegal goods, and all seized tobacco will be recycled responsibly once the probe concludes.
Warning signs of illegal tobacco and vapes
Officers from our Trading Standards team have issued some warning signs to look out for when buying cigarettes or tobacco. Here is the full list:
Unusual taste
Unusually cheap price
Unusual packaging
Spelling mistakes or incorrect logos
Health warnings not printed in English
Health warnings that do not display a picture
Health warnings not printed on a white background
Health warnings with lettering of different sizes than usual
Anyone who thinks they may have been sold illegal goods or suspect someone is selling them, can email trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk
