LONDON: The council’s trading standards team and police officers with sniffer dogs seized more than 25,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 4.5kg of smuggled rolling tobacco during a raid at a store in Oxford Road.
The huge haul was seized from a Polish grocery store on the road in Reading here the other day after the council’s trading standards team was tipped off by a getreading reporter.
Reading Borough Council’s trading standards team and the police executed the raid as part of a national initiative known as Operation Henry II.
The Cocker Spaniels which sniffed out the illegal stash were provided by Wagtail UK, a company which supplies expertly trained dogs for the detection of substances such as explosives, drugs, cash and tobacco.
The shop was also suspected of illegally selling cheap cigarettes to underage students at a nearby college after a number of complaints were made by concerned parents and a former employee.
Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for consumer services Paul Gittings said: “The detection dogs can find tobacco even if hidden in the most unlikely places.
“Offenders need to know that they will face the consequences if they choose to deal in these illegal products.
“Those involved in dealing in illegal tobacco are encouraging people, including children, in the local area to smoke by providing a cheap source of cigarettes and tobacco.
“Hopefully, this raid will make unscrupulous traders think twice about stocking and selling these products, as we will always pursue prosecutions where possible.”
The council is currently exploring options for prosecuting the retailer.
Detective chief inspector Mark Spencer said: “This excellent result is due to the effective partnership working between the Reading neighbourhood policing team and the local council’s trading standard’s team.
“Far from being victimless crime, the trade in illegal tobacco exploits people in a position of vulnerability, often children and lines the pockets of organised criminals who profit from causing misery and hardship to others.
“It is a priority for our local policing teams to target all such criminality. Anyone involved in similar activities can expect a visit from our teams soon.”
The council is also urging people to keep an eye out for illegal tobacco. These prohibited products usually have foreign brand names and health warnings, cheaper prices (less than £3.50 for a 20 pack), low quality packaging or unusual tastes or smells.
Some have no pictures, health warnings or duty labels on the packets.
