A raid of a shop led to the seizure of a illegal cigarettes, tobacco, vapes, nitrous oxide and a car – with arrests made
Some of the illegal cigarettes and nitrous oxide seized in the Sparkbrook shop raid
A joint operation by Trading Standards officers and police in Birmingham has led to a huge discovery of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes and a big quantity of laughing gas.
A raid was carried out by Birmingham City Council officers, supported by West Midlands Police, at a ‘24/7 shop’ in Sparkbrook.
Officers searched the shop premises and two vehicles associated with it and found a large illicit haul.
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This included:
- 6,320 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes;
- 59 packets of illicit vapes;
- 1,750 grams of suspected Amber Leaf hand-rolling tobacco;
- 68 large bottles of nitrous oxide, recovered from an abandoned vehicle linked to the business
- One vehicle
All of which were seized, with two arrests made, and ‘further enquiries are ongoing’.
Trading standards officers from Birmingham City Council, working with West Midlands Police, raided a shop in Sparkbrook seizing illegal cigarettes, tobacco, vapes and laughing gas with two arrests made
Sajeela Naseer, director of Regulation and Enforcement at Birmingham City Council, said: “Illegal tobacco, counterfeit products and the unlawful supply of nitrous oxide are serious threats to public health and community safety.
“This operation shows our continued commitment to working closely with West Midlands Police to protect residents and disrupt those who profit from criminal activity.
“We will not hesitate to take robust action against anyone involved in the sale of illegal and potentially dangerous goods.”
Large nitrous oxide bottles, more commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ were among the illegal items found stuffed in a vehicle in Sparkbrook
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The city council encouraged residents to flag up any suspicious or illegal activity they spot in their area, such as the sale of illegal goods.
They should be reported to Birmingham Trading Standards on 0121 303 9360 or West Midlands Police on 101.