Illegal goods worth £124k seized in shop raids

Police and Trading Standards have seized illegal tobacco and other illicit goods worth nearly £124,000 in a series of raids across Birmingham.

Officers seized 8,326 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes, more than 1,000 packets of hand-rolling tobacco, hundreds of packs of smokeless tobacco and dozens of banned single-use vapes in five separate raids between 25 and 31 March.

Authorities say the intelligence-led operation targeted repeat offender premises in Small Heath, Erdington and other parts of the city.

Birmingham City Council said the scale of seizures showed why "sustained, targeted action" was "essential".

A number of unsafe and counterfeit toys were also removed, along with nitrous oxide canisters and other prohibited items.

In one inspection on 25 March, officers uncovered nearly 6,000 illicit cigarettes alongside tobacco products, fake nicotine pouches and a range of unsafe goods, including out-of-date food items.

A further operation in Small Heath on 26 March led to the seizure of 2,400 illegal cigarettes and about 60 large nitrous oxide bottles found in a vehicle next to a premises previously visited by enforcement teams. Police seized the vehicle and gas canisters at the scene.

Three additional raids carried out on 31 March in Erdington and other areas resulted in more than 5,000 cigarettes and more than 1,000 packets of hand-rolling tobacco being removed from sale.

Det Insp Tom Lyons said working with Trading Standards was "vital", adding joint operations were helping to tackle crimes that mattered most to local people, including the illegal sale of goods.

He added that partnership work would continue to make communities safer and disrupt criminal activity linked to the trade.

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