Birmingham has recorded what is believed to be one of the largest single-premises illicit tobacco seizures ever seen in the city, with more than £546,000 of illegal goods removed from high streets since the beginning of October.
Officers executed a warrant at premises in Sparkhill, where illicit products were discovered both in the shop and concealed beneath floorboards in accommodation above the premises. The operation, carried out by Birmingham City Council Trading Standards, West Midlands Police and Warwickshire Tobacco Specialists, resulted in four arrests and the search of two flats.
Details of the Sparkhill Seizure
The seizure included 15,497 packets of cigarettes (309,940 individual cigarettes) valued at £247,952, 1,468 packets of hand rolling tobacco valued at £67,528, 445 illicit vapes valued at £3,560, 232 nitrous oxide canisters valued at £11,600, and 1,478 containers of snuff valued at £2,956. Also recovered were 1,759 packs of chewing tobacco, 59 Viagra jelly sachets, 146 Viagra tablets, 23 counterfeit Fenty Beauty lipsticks valued at £510, and multiple non-UK compliant energy drinks. The total value of goods seized during the operation was £353,271.
Further Raids Across the City
In a separate Operation Cloud raid at premises in Birmingham city centre, Trading Standards officers seized 93 packets of illicit cigarettes (1,860 individual cigarettes) and 93 illicit vapes, with an estimated combined value of more than £2,000.
Earlier enforcement activity saw four premises raided in Handsworth and Bordesley Green. While no illicit goods were discovered at the Handsworth premises, significant quantities of illegal products were recovered from two shops in Bordesley Green. From the first premises, officers seized 5,400 individual cigarettes, 68 packets of black naswar (a powdered smokeless tobacco product popular primarily in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia and parts of South Africa) and other smokeless oral snuff products, 20 nitrous oxide canisters, 25 Viagra tablets and 97.2g of hand rolling tobacco. One person was arrested in connection with the sale of nitrous oxide.
At the second premises, officers seized 1,620 individual cigarettes, 81 packets of black naswar and other smokeless oral snuff products, 300g of hand rolling tobacco and unlicensed erectile dysfunction products, including Kamagra jelly and tablets. Additionally, one person was arrested following the discovery of suspected cannabis.
Ongoing Enforcement and Official Response
Earlier in October, five additional trade premises were raided across Lozells, Erdington and Handsworth as officers continued to target businesses suspected of supplying illicit and counterfeit goods.
Councillor Harris Khaliq, cabinet member for city services and digital at Birmingham City Council, said: “Every resident should be able to shop with confidence, knowing that the products being sold in their local community are safe, legal and meet the standards people rightly expect.
“These seizures are about protecting consumers and families from illegal goods that can pose serious risks, while ensuring honest businesses are not placed at a disadvantage by those who choose to break the law.
“Fairness matters. Businesses that follow the rules should be able to compete on a level playing field, and residents should have confidence that action is being taken when illegal activity threatens their communities.
“The removal of more than half a million pounds worth of illicit products from Birmingham’s streets since the beginning of October, including one of the largest single-premises tobacco seizures the city has seen, demonstrates the strength of our partnership approach and the determination of our enforcement teams.
“Working with West Midlands Police and our other partners, we will continue to take robust action against those involved in the illicit trade, protecting consumers, supporting legitimate traders and maintaining trust in Birmingham’s high streets.”
