Day of action sees illegal cigarettes, tobacco and drugs seized from retailers in Walsall
A day of partnership work between council officials and police has seen illegal cigarettes, tobacco and drugs seized from retailers across Walsall.
The joint operation, held on December 4, involved officers from Walsall’s Priority Crime Team, Walsall Trading Standards, specialist search dog team and HMRC.
A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis after paraphernalia was seized from a shop, while a quantity of “Nerds Rope Bites” sweets infused with THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, were also seized.
In total, three retail premises and a vehicle in Walsall were searched following intelligence that illegal tobacco was being sold, with illegal goods found in two of the three shops visited, as well as in the vehicle.
Sniffer dogs assisted in locating concealed tobacco and drugs.
One store contained a purpose-built, magnetic concealment door hidden in the storeroom where, inside, officers uncovered over 2,000 illegal cigarettes.
Sergeant Jason Pinches, Walsall's Priority Crime Team supervisor, said: “It was great to support Trading Standards and our other partners in this operation.
"We made an arrest and assisted in seizing illegal cigarettes, tobacco and drugs.
"It was a very successful operation with thousands of illicit goods taken off our streets.”
