Sniffer dogs help seize 12,000 illegal cigarettes in Walsall raids

Almost 12,000 illegal cigarettes and nearly 7lbs of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized in a raid by police and trading standards officers in Walsall.

The illicit products, with a street value of about £13,000, were found during an operation across four shops in the borough.

Tobacco-detection dogs Griff and Bran were used in the swoop, which formed pat of Operation Fearless, a joint initiative between Walsall trading standards and public health departments aiming to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade in Walsall.

Illegal tobacco was discovered at three of the four premises searched in the operation on September 4, with the specialist dogs helping officers uncover a number of concealments.

At one store, Bran detected a sophisticated compartment behind the upper shelves of a storage unit. The hidden compartment was accessed using a suction cup mechanism which created a vacuum seal. Officers found illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco inside.

At a second shop, Bran identified a concealed compartment hidden behind a metal door in a storeroom. Griff also located a concealment several metres above floor level at a third premises, where illegal cigarettes had been hidden inside a wall cavity.

The operation followed intelligence that illicit tobacco was being sold from the premises. Investigations remain ongoing and further enforcement action may follow.

Councillor Ian Benton, cabinet member for enforcement, said allowing the illegal tobacco trade to take hold in Walsall’s communities was simply not an option.

“This operation shows the lengths those involved will go to conceal illegal products, but it also shows the lengths our trading standards officers will go to find them.” he said.

“I want to thank our officers, West Midlands Police and the specialist dog team for their hard work.”

Following the raids, residents had the opportunity to meet Griff and Bran at Darlaston Asda to learn more about how specialist detection dogs are being used to help tackle the illegal tobacco trade.

The event also gave residents the chance to speak to trading standards and public health officers, find out more about the risks associated with illicit tobacco and access free advice and support to stop smoking.

Operation Fearless runs alongside existing enforcement activity and all outcomes will be reported to the local tobacco control partnership to inform future action.

Residents are urged to report any information about the illegal sale of cigarettes, vapes, alcohol or counterfeit goods.

Information about the sale of illegal tobacco can be reported to [email protected].