Raid finds £10,000 worth of illegal tobacco at West Midlands stores

West Midlands Police-led activity, which involved a number of partner agencies, targeted the retail premises in Brierley Hill that were suspected of selling illegal tobacco.

Enforcement officers were accompanied by a number of tobacco detection dogs at the two locations, which cannot be named at this time.

At the first premises, a hidden compartment in the ceiling space of the stock room was discovered containing what is thought to be in the region of £10,000-worth of mixed brands of illicit and counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco products.

A short time later, a smaller but “significant seizure” of illegal tobacco was made at a nearby convenience store where the business owner had also attempted to conceal his stock.

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “Yesterday’s successful operation is a reminder to anyone considering trading in illegal tobacco that it will not be tolerated in our borough and those who choose to pursue such illicit behaviour will face the strong arm of the law.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this important work, helping to protect our residents from illegal and counterfeit tobacco, which can have very dangerous implications for a person’s health.”