Illegal tobacco, vapes seized from Walsall shops

A series of raids in several shops across Walsall on Friday (19) resulted in bags full of illegal tobacco products and vapes being seized in an attempt to crackdown on the illicit trade.

Police revealed the raids had been planned with Trading Standards and Home Office immigration officers. Detection dogs from B.W.Y Canine Ltd were able to sniff out the goods. Photographs shared by police on social media show the sniffer dogs standing over a suitcase packed full of cigarettes and rolling tobacco and sniffing through boxes in store rooms.

Alongside pictures of at least half a dozen evidence bags containing seized goods, Willenhall Police tweeted: "Fantastic operation with @BWYK9 and @SavvyShopper6 Walsall Trading Standards and immigration. All of the illegal tobacco and vapes sized in Walsall. Thanks to Bran, YoYo and Cooper the detection dogs."

"While people think it's just a cheap packet of cigarettes the money goes to organised crime and people trafficking rings," they added.

Shops in Willenhall were amongst those raided. However, on being asked by local media outlet, police denied to name the stores where the illegal tobacco and vape products were seized, saying that the investigations are still on.