SOMERSET NEWS: Illegal fags and tobacco sniffed out by police dogs

SOMERSET NEWS: Illegal fags and tobacco sniffed out by police dogs

TWO specially-trained police dogs – named Phoebe and Scamp – have sniffed out illegal cigarettes and tobacco worth £30,000 from two Somerset businesses.SOMERSET NEWS: Illegal fags and tobacco sniffed out by police dogs

Police officers and dogs worked alongside Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service to seize in excess of 60,000 illegal cigarettes and 11kg of hand-rolling tobacco.

The haul included hundreds of packets of foreign-labelled cigarettes hidden within large crisp boxes in a storeroom, none of which had been duty-paid. Further tests will also determine whether the products are also counterfeit.

This is the result of over 12 months of intelligence gathering on the premises in Bridgwater and Taunton. Smoke Free SW believes this is the biggest seizure in the South West for some time.

Inspector Andrew Pritchard said: “This means we can move towards a review and even revocation of the licence, which will be led by Trading Standards and supported by the evidence our team has gathered.

"It sends a strong message that selling cheap, illegal goods will not be tolerated. Those that do sell illegal goods could face being arrested, prosecuted which could result in a fine or even a custodial sentence.” 

Members of the public can report anyone suspected of selling illegal tobacco by calling Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

 

SOMERSET NEWS: Illegal fags and tobacco sniffed out by police dogs

Members of the public can report anyone suspected of selling illegal tobacco by calling Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

 

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