LONDON: More than £30,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco has been seized in Dudley following a crackdown.
A total of 39,600 cigarettes and 582 packs of tobacco were taken off the streets by Dudley Council trading standards officers last year.
The illegal goods were seized after spot checks of 16 premises. Trading standards were able to secure six prosecutions following the finds.
The campaign, which also resulted in 515 kg of hand rolling tobacco and 1.7 tons of niche tobacco being seized, was run by trading standards services across the West Midlands area.
Trading standards bosses in Dudley have hailed the borough’s contribution as a huge boost to protecting the public.
Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said: “We have a duty to protect the public and work hard to make sure that the goods they buy are genuine products which have had the tax paid on them.
“Selling illegal tobacco is a crime and offenders need to know that they will face consequences if they choose to deal in these products.”
The cigarettes and tobacco were unearthed by sniffer dogs as part of a sting.
