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Officers seized 30,000 illegal cigarettes in a series of raids on Birmingham shops.

Trading Standards stormed six shops during the planned raids on Wednesday and discovered the goods - worth approximately £7,500.

Sniffer dogs helped uncover the cigarettes, which were hidden behind false walls , light fittings, under counters and even in boxes of biscuits.

Birmingham City Council’s trading standards team worked with West Midlands Police following reports of them being supplied in a number of premises.

(Image: Birmingham City Council)

The seizure also included packs of suspected counterfeit and “cheap foreign labelled cigarettes”, which the council said “breached consumer protection legislation and are non-duty paid” and therefore cannot be legally sold in the UK.

Coun Barbara Dring, Chair of the city council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “Illegal cigarettes were found at all six shops visited during this operation, and as a result Trading Standards have taken 30,000 illegal cigarettes out of circulation, worth around £7,500.

“Those involved in dealing in illegal tobacco may be encouraging people, including children, to smoke by providing a cheap source. This activity also brings crime into our neighbourhoods, which is why it is important we tackle this as it also impacts on businesses that are trading legally.

“The detection dogs can find tobacco and cigarettes even if hidden in the most unlikely places.

“Offenders need to know that they will face consequences if they choose to deal in these illegal products.”

Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards Service said they continue to focus on intelligence-led inspections to stamp out the illegal supply and will continue to work with their partners to focus their activities.