Wolverhampton shop owners investigated as tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and hundreds of vapes seized in city raids
Tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes, vapes and tobacco products plus unsafe and counterfeit toys have been seized from retailers in Wolverhampton.
Acting on complaints, Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team partnered with West Midlands Police to target a number of premises across the city.
Specially-trained detection dog Griff helped sniff out some of the illegal tobacco products, which were found across four businesses as well as in the boot of a car.
The wide range of items seized included cigarettes, disposable vapes, trademark infringing perfumes, unsafe and counterfeit toys, boxes of perfume or aftershave believed to be counterfeit, prescription-only medication and counterfeit energy drinks.
In total 38,840 cigarettes were found along with 347 vapes and 17kg of hand rolling tobacco.
The estimated retail value of the cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco seized, if genuine, would be £45,958. The duty evaded for cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco would come to £23,415.
The seizures were carried out under Trading Standards initiative Operation CeCe and action will now be taken against the owners of premises where the material was seized, with further investigations carried out to identify their suppliers.
Once investigations have been completed, the illegal cigarettes and tobacco will be handed over to a recycling scheme to be dealt with in an environmentally friendly way.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at 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.”
Anyone who thinks they may have been sold illegal goods or suspect someone is selling them can email trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
