Illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes with a retail value of £1.6m have been seized during a crackdown at shops across Preston, Lancashire.
Around 100,000 packs of illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, and hundreds of illegal non-regulation vapes were uncovered in “one of the biggest Trading Standards seizures in Hyndburn to date”.
Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team joined forces with HM Revenue & Customs and tobacco detection dog, Sky, a working cocker spaniel from Wagtail UK. She sniffed out illicit goods at all seven city centre premises that they visited and even indicated that there was tobacco behind a false wall, which officers broke open to find the goods inside.
Additionally, stashes of cannabis, together with illegal prescription drugs and antibiotics were also seized. Hiding places included hidden compartments and in backyards, while one trader threw suitcases full of tobacco on the roof to try to evade detection.
Counterfeited brands included Richmond, Benson & Hedges, and Lambert & Butler, as well as less familiar brands such as Manchester & Sovereign. Packaging used to manufacture counterfeit cigarettes was also seized.
Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said: “Hiring sniffer dog Sky, who did a very thorough job, was a fantastic way of protecting residents from unsafe goods from unscrupulous traders. With the help of partners such as Wagtail UK, HMRC and the police, we can tackle rogue traders and find hidden illicit goods.
“Preventing the sale of illicit goods protects public health and keeps children safe from underage sales. Our Trading Standards team will continue to keep seizing illicit tobacco and non-compliant vapes and we encourage anyone to report shops that flout the law.”
Lancashire County Council said investigations are still ongoing.
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