Bury trading standards and licensing officers seized £25,000 of illegal goods when they joined Greater Manchester Police in Operation Avro yesterday (10 April).
They visited six shops – three in Bury, three in Prestwich – accompanied by tobacco detection dogs Sky and Luna from Wagtail.
Sky sniffed out various concealed items including 7,480 illicit cigarettes, 2.15kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 1,218 vapes. Other suspected counterfeit goods included five earphones, one watch and 17 airpods. Other issues were also identified and will be investigated.
In one premises, contraband cigarettes were discovered hidden behind an electricity socket, and officers had to drill through the wall to reveal the whole stash.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “Our enforcement officers are watching, and we will take action against retailers who break the law and sell illegal tobacco and vapes.
“I also urge residents not to buy these products. It’s unfair on law-abiding traders, and these ‘cheap’ purchases actually cause harm to the local community by bringing in crime and getting kids hooked on nicotine.”
ENDS
