Sniffer dog uncovers £14k of illicit cigarettes

A sniffer dog has helped to uncover thousands of illicit cigarettes, vapes and tobacco products hidden in shops across Wolverhampton.

Following a number of tip offs, Trading Standards officers carried out a series of raids on sites where the goods were believed to be on sale.

In one location, Cooper sniffed out a haul of illicit cigarettes stashed behind a specially-created sliding shelving unit behind a wall.

Across the city, more than 17,500 cigarettes, 744 vapes, 200g of Shisha and 2.1kg of hand rolling tobacco were found.

Cooper sniffed out this stash found in a specially-created sliding shelving unit hidden behind a wall

Other stashes were discovered under counters, and in one location under beds.

The estimated street value of the cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco seized was £14,640, City of Wolverhampton Council said.

The value of the vapes seized was about £7,440 and the tax evaded for cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco would come to more than £8,500.

Trading Standards officers teamed up with West Midlands Police, B.W.Y Canine Ltd and the Intellectual Property Office for the raids.

Illicit vapes were also found to be on sale

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal said: “The illicit sale of vapes and tobacco products puts our residents in danger and affects the trade of legitimate businesses in our city.

“We won’t tolerate it and we won’t hesitate to take action against city businesses that sell these illegal and dangerous goods."