Illegal tobacco seized in Hull

On one site 12,520 cigarettes and 207 packets of tobacco were concealed in a hydraulically operated hidden compartment under a concrete floor in the shop’s toilet. A tobacco detection dog led officers to the hiding place.

In total, 87,620 cigarettes and 207 packets of tobacco, with a retail value of around £60,00, were recovered by the visits.

Chris Wilson, trading standards officer at Hull City Council, said: “Work like this is vital and has continued throughout the pandemic, with additional safety measures wherever necessary.

“As we’ve seen with previous seizures like this, no matter how clever the hiding place, it can and will be found. Working with detection dogs, our team has seen it all and won’t be thrown by goods being hidden within a floor, behind a fake shelf or inside a light.”

Councillor Gwen Lunn, portfolio holder for public protection, added: “Our teams and their colleagues in the police have continued to make this work a priority throughout the pandemic and they certainly won’t let up as the city continues to open up again.”