Illegal cigarettes, counterfeit vapes and toys seized in major Dudley enforcement operation
Joint police and Trading Standards raids across Dudley uncover illicit goods
Authorities have seized illegal cigarettes, suspected counterfeit vapes and other prohibited items from several stores across Dudley as part of a wider effort to tackle criminal activity linked to illicit trading.
During a two-day enforcement operation, neighbourhood policing teams worked alongside Trading Standards officers to inspect a number of businesses suspected of selling illegal goods and generating profits for organised crime groups.
The latest action saw officers visit shops in Brierley Hill and Stourbridge, where significant quantities of illicit tobacco products and suspected counterfeit vaping devices were discovered.
At a premises on Dudley Road in Brierley Hill, officers uncovered illegal tobacco hidden in a separate room, while additional cigarettes and tobacco products were found concealed in a nearby drain. All vaping products located inside the store were seized after concerns they may have been counterfeit.
In Stourbridge, a shop on Lower High Street was also targeted after officers identified a man allegedly attempting to sell counterfeit cigarettes. Following a search of the premises and a nearby vehicle, further counterfeit tobacco products were recovered. Investigators also seized several large bags containing suspected counterfeit vapes.
The operation follows earlier enforcement activity this month, when police and Trading Standards teams carried out inspections at two additional stores in the borough.
At a shop in the Shell Corner area of Halesowen, officers recovered a substantial quantity of vapes and tobacco products, as well as a canister containing nitrous oxide. Meanwhile, another premises on Dudley Road in Brierley Hill was found to be selling illegal and counterfeit toys, which were subsequently confiscated.
Separate investigations also resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old man on Friday, 22 May, after intelligence suggested children were being supplied with vaping products in the Dudley area.
The arrest was made during a coordinated operation involving Dudley’s Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation Team (SOCEX), neighbourhood policing teams and the force’s Traffic Unit. The man was detained on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and supplying a controlled Class B substance.
He has since been released on bail under strict conditions while enquiries continue.
Similar enforcement activity has been carried out across other areas of the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Sandwell. The operations form part of a broader campaign aimed at disrupting organised criminal networks involved in the sale of illicit goods and reducing associated offences such as antisocial behaviour and violence within local communities.
Chief Inspector Adam Henderson, from Dudley Police, said: “By working with our partners we’re able to help disrupt organised crime, act on concerns raised by our communities, take illegal and counterfeit items off the streets, and bring those involved to justice.
“We know the community has concerns over shops that sell illegal cigarettes, vapes, and other counterfeit goods which are often linked to serious organised crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
“We’re intent on doing everything we can to crackdown on these shops and keeping our communities safe – and operations like this will continue.
“If you have concerns about shops and issues of this nature in your local area, please report it to us or our partners – the more information we have, the better an opportunity we have at taking action.”