Hidden hydraulic compartment uncovered as £20,000 haul of unlawful tobacco seized in Walsall

On 18 May 2026, Walsall Trading Standards officers, working in partnership with West Midlands Police and specialist tobacco detection canines, searched 4 retail premises throughout the borough below Operation CeCe, a nationwide initiative led by National Trading Standards in partnership with HMRC to deal with unlawful tobacco.

The operation resulted within the seizure of greater than 16,000 unlawful cigarettes and 6.7kg of unlawful hand-rolling tobacco. Intelligence gathered by Trading Standards indicated illicit tobacco merchandise had been being bought from the premises visited.

Illegal merchandise had been found in three of the 4 outlets inspected, with officers uncovering more and more refined concealment strategies designed to evade detection.

In one store, unlawful cigarettes and tobacco had been hidden inside the highest compartment of a working fridge. Tobacco canine Griff efficiently detected the stash regardless of merchants trying to masks the odor utilizing espresso granules.

At a second premises, tobacco canine Cooper positioned unlawful tobacco hid inside a manhole in a yard behind the store.

The third premises revealed some of the refined concealments officers have encountered thus far. After tobacco canine Bran indicated the presence of tobacco beneath kitchen cupboards, the dealer refused to cooperate with officers. Trading Standards and cops had been pressured to make use of crowbars and electrical energy instruments to achieve entry to a hid hydraulic raise system hidden round 5 ft under the ground. Once opened, officers found giant portions of unlawful cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco hid inside.

All unlawful items had been seized and positioned into proof as a part of ongoing investigations.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, stated, “The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people. Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe – a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC – has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK.”

Illegal tobacco poses vital dangers to public well being, as merchandise are unregulated and should include dangerous substances at far increased ranges than authorized tobacco. Cheap illicit tobacco can even make smoking extra accessible to younger individuals and undermine efforts to assist residents stop smoking.

Further enforcement exercise will proceed to happen throughout the borough.

ENDS