Sniffer dogs discover illegal tobacco in £40k Sandwell crackdown
Sniffer dogs detected counterfeit and smuggled tobacco worth more than £40,000 in a crackdown on illegal trade.
Buster, a collie, and Bertie, a collie-cross, were drafted in to help Trading Standards officers uncover hidden stashes at six premises across Sandwell.
The haul included approximately 63,400 cigarettes, 130 packets of tobacco and 25kg of shisha tobacco.
The operation was part of a crackdown on illicit and counterfeit tobacco across nine regions in England.
The dogs were drafted in after funding was provided by the Department of Health.
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for Trading Standards, said "The detection dogs can find tobacco and cigarettes even if it is hidden in the most unlikely places.
"Offenders need to know they will face consequences if they choose to deal in these illegal products."
Bob Charnley, Sandwell Council's Trading Standards and Licensing manager, said: "Trading Standards works closely with other enforcement agencies to crack down on illicit tobacco in the UK.
'Seizing illicit product is only one of the tools used; the focus is on using a range of interventions, from penalties to prosecutions, to encourage compliance and maximise deterrent.
Investigations are continuing into the discovery by trading standards officers.
