Thousands of illegal cigarettes worth more than £20,000 have been seized from shops across Walsall in a joint operation by police and council officers. A police dog and a specialist tobacco dog were used to sniff out the contraband.
Raids Across Three Locations
On Friday, May 15, officers from West Midlands Police and Walsall Council Trading Standards carried out enforcement action at three shops. At a premises on Wednesbury Road in Pleck, they discovered 23,000 illegal cigarettes valued at approximately £18,000. A further 3,000 cigarettes worth around £2,000 were found at a shop on Caldmore Green, while 100 additional illegal cigarettes were seized from a shop on Stafford Road.
Links to Organised Crime
Chief Inspector Lee Wiggan from Walsall Police highlighted the wider implications of such sales. "We know that shops that sell illegal cigarettes, vapes and other counterfeit goods are often linked to serious organised crime including exploitation of vulnerable people, as well as violence and anti-social behaviour," he said. "We work with our partners including Trading Standards to disrupt organised crime and to bring those involved in this criminality to justice."
He urged the public to come forward with information, stating that more intelligence helps combat illegal activity.
Council's Commitment
A Walsall Council spokesperson added: "A significant quantity of illegal tobacco has been removed from circulation through this joint enforcement activity. Illicit tobacco undermines legitimate businesses, poses risks to public health and is often linked to wider criminality and anti-social behaviour. We will continue working closely with West Midlands Police and our partners to target those involved in the illegal trade of tobacco and counterfeit goods."
The operation also involved the police dog unit and a specialist tobacco dog named Griff, who helped uncover the hidden cigarettes.
Appeal for Information
West Midlands Police encouraged anyone with information about illegal cigarette sales to contact them via Live Chat on their website or by calling 101. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
