£25,000 worth of dodgy cigarettes and dangerous vapes seized from back street Walsall shop

Walsall Police raided the Caldmore shop this morning (Wednesday, February 26) along with Walsall Council Trading Standards officers. 

The joint operation was part of a crime blitz across the town this morning which led to arrests and seizures of weapons, drugs and money. 

Walsall Police posted on social media: "Officers from our St Matthew’s neighbourhood policing team joined up with Trading Standards this morning as part of a joint operation.

"At one shop we gained access to thousands of illegal cigarettes which were hidden as well as more than 1,000 illegal vapes."

The rising cost of cigarettes due to repeated tax rises has spawned a black market of fake and illegally smuggled cigarettes across the country. Vaping has seen a massive rise in popularity but there are still fears about their safety, especially when used by children. 

Dodgy vapes which have not passed health and safety checks have become more popular throughout the Midlands in recent years and several were found in the Caldmore shop.

The police added: "Disposable vapes must contain two per cent nicotine and have a 2ml e-liquid capacity. This equates to about 600 puffs. Some of the seized vapes contained 15,000 puffs."

These vapes are often fruit flavoured and brightly coloured which makes them more attractive to children, causing concerns among doctors about the long-term effect on youngsters' lungs.

PC Courtney Tongue, from St Matthew’s team at Walsall LPA, said: “We have an excellent working relationship with Walsall Council Trading Standards and regularly carry out these joint operations. This was a successful raid where thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes were recovered.”