Tobacco stash hidden like Harry Potter, say police

People working at a shop had "watched too much Harry Potter" after £1,000 worth of illegal tobacco products were found hidden under the stairs, police said.

Officers in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, visited numerous shops in the town for compliance checks after concerns were raised by people in the community.

While they said most businesses had been compliant, several were found stocking large quantities of illegal tobacco and vape products.

In one shop, the products were found in a hidden compartment under the stairs which were seized.

"One shop was found to be stocking a large quantity of illicit vapes, which were promptly seized," a police spokesperson said on Facebook.

"We then visited another shop where someone appeared to have watched too much Harry Potter.

"Illegal tobacco products had been concealed inside a hidden compartment under the stairs.

"Unfortunately for them, our officers are quite good at finding things.

"An estimated £1,000 worth of illicit tobacco was seized, along with hemp products that are not permitted for the UK market."

Officers said they later intercepted another package containing £15,000 worth of high-potency cannabis before it could reach its destination, with inquiries ongoing.

"A reminder that while some people spend their day hiding tobacco under stairs and posting illegal drugs through the mail, we'll continue working to find them, disrupt them, and keep our communities safe," the police added.

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