West Midlands Police teamed with Walsall Council’s Trading Standards team to seize around £365,000 of tobacco products from retail premises around the borough.
Sniffer dogs, Griff, Cooper and Bran assisted the operation, using their high-powered noses to locate the counterfeit goods, with Griff identifying a unit containing illegal cigarettes and hand-held rolling tobacco.
Around £365,000 worth of illegal vapes, tobacco and cigarettes have been seized after West Midlands Police teamed up with the Walsall Council’s Trading Standards and specialist dog teams to tackle illegal sales around the region.
Walsall Neighbourhood teams supported the Trading Standards-led operation on Wednesday, July 2, where four retail premises, a vehicle and a storage unit were all raided.
The operation uncovered approximately 100 kilograms of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, 287,000 illicit cigarettes, and 350 illegal disposable vapes worth $365,000.
Some of the counterfeit cigarettes were even found to be concealed inside boxes labelled as barbecues.
Sergeant David Woods, from the West Midlands Police St Matthew’s Team 2, said: “It is great to support our partners at Walsall Council Trading Standards, and this operation was a huge success as a large amount of illegal goods were taken off our streets.
“We look forward to supporting them in future operations in Walsall.”
Councillor Adam Hicken, portfolio holder for enforcement and safe communities at Walsall Council, said the operation was a ‘success’.
He said: “This is another successful operation for the team, and it sends a clear message to criminals in our borough.
“I want to thank our Trading Standards team, West Midlands Police, and of course the stars of the operation, Cooper, Griff, and Bran, who helped to sniff out these illegal goods and get them off our streets.
“This isn’t a harmless activity. Illegal goods like this not only pose risks to people’s health, but can be linked to organised criminal activity too, where vulnerable people may be exploited.
“We need to crack down on the people who think this activity is ok and will come without consequence.”
