Shop raids uncover illegal cigarettes and more

Raids on shops in Wolverhampton have uncovered hundreds of illegal cigarettes, banned disposable vapes and suspected fake Labubu products.

The city council said action would be taken after four shops and a van were inspected by trading standards officers and police who were working with a detection dog.

Officers also found perfume with suspect trademarks, along with sweets and chocolates that did not satisfy UK labelling regulations.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal said it was a time of year that families might be looking for presents for people including children and the council would "not accept the sale of items which could be dangerous".

Counterfeit products carried an increased danger to health as they did not follow UK regulations, he said.

Officers seized 54,065 single cigarettes, 430 banned disposable vapes and other tobacco products.

They also seized 294 suspected counterfeit Labubu keyrings, six suspected counterfeit Labubu dolls, and 175 roll-on perfumes with suspect Chanel, Armani and Tom Ford trademarks.

Raids also uncovered 303 packets of American and Labubu-branded sweets that did not satisfy UK labelling regulations.

If genuine, the retail value of all goods seized would be estimated at £51,700, the council said. The duty evaded would come to more than £28,000, it added.

Further investigations would be carried out to identify suppliers, the council stated.

The illegal products will be recycled at the conclusion of the investigation.

Lord Michael Bichard, national Trading Standards chairman, said organised criminal gangs drove the illicit tobacco trade, adding that it posed "serious risks to local communities, especially young people".

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