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Detection dogs help sniff out £16,500 of illicit tobacco in North East Lincolnshire

by Steve Beasant on 30 October, 2014

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Trading Standards team confiscated about £16,500 worth of illicit tobacco in an operation in the borough on Tuesday, 28 October.

As the result of a partnership between North East Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Health and Well Being Board, and the North East Lincolnshire Tobacco Alliance, tobacco detection dogs have discovered 21,071 cigarettes and 17kg of tobacco that would cost £16,500 to buy legitimately.

The illicit products have a street value of about £6,000 and were seized during inspection visits in the borough, conducted by North East Lincolnshire Council’s Trading Standards team with support from Humberside Police, during Operation Nightshade.

Operation Nightshade is an on-going initiative in North East Lincolnshire that aims to crack down on the supply of illicit tobacco.

Tobacco detection dogs Phoebe and Scamp, two enthusiastic Springer Spaniels, provided by BWY Canine, helped detect the concealed stashes of tobacco at the premises that were visited.

The premises included three shops and a private house.

The seizure included some products which are suspected of being counterfeit, and other non-duty paid products which cannot be legally sold in the UK.

These raids are the latest in a number of high profile seizures of illicit tobacco products in the borough.

A similar Trading Standards-led operation last month saw the confiscation of 5,500 illicit cigarettes and 3.5kg of illicit tobacco, with a street value of £3,700. A further 7,500 illicit cigarettes and 21.05 kg of hand rolling tobacco were confiscated by Trading Standards during a police operation in Freeman Street on 26 September. The approximate street value is £4,300, but to purchase it legitimately would cost at least £10,600.

Neil Clark, community protection manager responsible for Trading Standards at NELC, said: “We appeal to anyone to get in touch if you have information about any people or businesses selling counterfeit or illicit tobacco products in your community.”

Report it to North East Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards on 01472 326299 (option 3).

Alternatively, ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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