West Midlands Police has reported success in tackling the illicit trade via Operation Fearless.
Officers carried out a raid on a shop on Soho Road in Birmingham, acting on information that illicit products were being sold there.
Although only a small amount of illicit cigarettes were found in the store, officers seized more than 9,600 from a van parked nearby, while another 16,780 were found in a car parked next to the shop. Keys to both vehicles were recovered from within the store.
No arrests were made, but investigations into the store are ongoing.
Acting Inspector Chloe Morgan, from Operation Fearless, said: “Today’s raid will have caused significant disruption to the supply of illicit goods.
“People came up to us in the street while we were searching the shop and thanked us for taking action.
“We know that this kind of activity is often linked to wider organised criminality, and so we’ll continue to listen to the community and work with partners to disrupt it at every opportunity.”
Operation Fearless has been working on the Soho Road and Handsworth Triangle since April, targeting drugs, anti-social behaviour and the trade in illicit tobacco and other goods.
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