With the help of Wagtail UK and Syke, a tobacco sniffing dog, £20,580 worth of illegal vapes and tobacco were seized during raids on two shops in Rochdale
During the raids officers found hidden compartments where items were stored knowingly by staff, including a stash hidden underneath a toilet which Syke was able to find.
Officers seized 1,055 packs of illicit cigarettes, made up of approximately 21,100 cigarettes with a value of approximately £12,660, 222 packs of hand rolled tobacco worth £6,216 and 142 illegal vapes.
A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. He has since been bailed.
The investigation is ongoing with Trading Standards.
Inspector Taylor, of our Neighbourhood Policing Unit in Rochdale, said: “This is an excellent example of partnership work conducted by the Rochdale Tutor Unit. Not only do student officers learn the importance of working together to achieve similar goals, but they have also tackled serious organised crime in their local area.
“It is likely that these seized items have not been through the rigorous checks required in UK legislation and therefore could have caused serious harm to users.
“These criminal networks pose significant threats to public security and local communities. By targeting these groups, law enforcement can reduce crime rates, protect vulnerable people and disrupt serious and organised crime.
“I am extremely proud of the team and their hard work in securing these results thorough our excellent partnership working with Trading Standards.”
