A huge haul of illicit goods including 4,000 vapes and 10,000 cigarettes have been seized from three Cradley Heath shops.
Officers from Sandwell Partnerships Team and neighbourhood officers joined forces with Sandwell Council Trading Standards Team to conduct warrants at the shops on Tuesday (Sept 16).
The teams were searching for illegal cigarettes, tobacco, and illegal vapes, as well as looking at illegal food items.
In one store a treasure trove of goods was uncovered hidden underneath counters and inside cabinets with the team uncovering thousands of packets of cigarettes and vapes.
An estimated 10,000 cigarettes and 4,000 vapes were found. From all three stores searched, an estimated total of around £20, 000 to £30,000 of goods were seized.
Fake toys and headphones were also seized in the operation.
Sandwell Partnerships Sergeant John Tranter, said: “We joined forces with our partners at Trading Standards to carry out these warrants and have had a really good result in the number of illicit goods seized from the stores.
“Illegal imported cigarettes and vapes often contain harmful ingredients and are potentially very dangerous and we know that shopkeepers often sell to young people who don’t really know what they’re consuming.
“It’s important that we make every effort to disrupt those involved in this trade and we will be continuing to work with our partners to target stores selling illegal illicit goods."
Elsewhere, officers from the Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards and Waste Enforcement Teams working with South Wales Police carried out a series of raids following the receipt of intelligence received about the sale of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco and the disposal of associated business waste.
Illicit tobacco was found hidden in concealments in business premises and in vehicles parked nearby, detected by thorough searching and the use of sniffer dogs.
Illegal disposable vapes were found to be on open sale in these premises and fake and potentially unsafe Labubu dolls were found in one premises.
A follow up visit to another premises revealed that more illegal vapes and fake Labubu dolls were on sale. Counterfeit toys often flout safety legislation which could pose serious dangers for children.
These are in addition to other activities carried out by Trading Standards officers over the past few months including closure orders and formal action, one of which is leading to a sentencing of one business for the sale of illegal tobacco and illegal vapes at Swansea Crown Court in October.
During the joint operation, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Waste Enforcement officers also located a person who had previously failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice in relation to waste offences and had moved from his previous address. The person has now paid the outstanding Fixed Penalty Notice.
Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said: “This operation demonstrates the benefits of inter-agency information sharing and cooperation.
“These businesses are wilfully undermining efforts to protect the health and safety of the public at large by selling dangerous and illegal products. By hiding their wares they are fully aware of the illegality of their actions.”