'Hero' hound sniffs out erectile dysfunction pills

Skye, a specially trained springer spaniel, detected suspicious smells coming from a locked box

A sniffer dog is being hailed a "hero" after uncovering a stash of illicit cigarettes, vapes and unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets during an enforcement operation in east London.

While patrolling with trading standards officers on 11 June in Whitechapel, Skye, a specially trained four-year old springer spaniel, detected suspicious smells coming from a locked box attached to the back of a bike outside a shop.

Tower Hamlets councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury said such products could be really dangerous and "had no place on our high streets".

"I'd like to thank our trading standards team and Skye who played a hero's role in helping to keep our communities safe," he said.

What looked like an ordinary bike box used for deliveries, turned out to contain illicit goods, Tower Hamlets Council said.

Thanks to Skye's sense of smell, officers were able to seize:

• 33 packets of illicit cigarettes

• 7 packets of smokeless tobacco

• 14 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco

• 24 illegal vapes

• 80 unlicensed erectile tablets

Skye's discovery was part of a two-day crackdown by Tower Hamlets Council

The discovery was part of a two-day crackdown targeting the sale of counterfeit and unsafe products, which in total led to the seizure of:

• 5,840 illicit cigarettes (292 packets)

• 418 assorted illegal vapes

• 2,055 packets of chewing tobacco

• 80 unlicensed and potentially dangerous erectile dysfunction tablets

The dog patrol service is part of Tower Hamlets' £8m Anti-Crime Task Force - a joint effort with the police to tackle crime and disorder.

The initiative was launched to boost community safety and support police officers with weapons sweeps, drug disruption and vehicle checks.

Mr Chowdhury added: "We take a proactive approach to smoke out illegal trading in Tower Hamlets and regularly use sniffer dogs, so there's no place for such trading to hide."