Two shops on Soho Road in Handsworth were raided by Trading Standards and West Midlands Police as part of Operation Fearless, resulting in the seizure of hundreds of illicit items including alcohol, vapes, cigarettes, sex pills, medicines, and even eyeliner containing lead.
Details of the Raids
The raids took place on Wednesday, May 13, targeting 'Khyber 12' and 'All in One' stores. At Khyber 12, officers discovered 71 packets of snuff (oral tobacco), 59 illegal vapes, and 104 boxes of illegal cigarettes. The haul at All in One included 14 boxes of illegal cigarettes and more than 300 packets of oral chewing tobacco.
Concerning Finds
More worryingly, behind the till at All in One, officers found 213 packets of Viagra (six tablets per pack), 245 packets of oral antibiotics (six tablets per pack), and six bottles of harmful eyeliner suspected to contain lead. Additionally, two metal baseball bats and a machete were found behind the counter, which the shopkeeper initially claimed were for cutting sugar cane.
Operation Fearless
These raids are part of Operation Fearless, a major crime-fighting initiative designed to flood Soho Road and the Handsworth Triangle with officers and resources. Since April 27, 45 people have been arrested, with some charged, and dozens of stop-and-searches have been carried out along with 14 vehicle seizures.
Future Plans
Over the next nine months, an extra 20 officers will work with specific agencies to tackle crime and support vulnerable individuals. Deputy Chief Constable Jen Mattison stated: 'Soho Road and the Handsworth Triangle is our third area for deploying the Operation Fearless team. When we are looking for a new area, we look for three things: levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, levels of community concern, and the willingness of partners to work with us.'
