SUSPECTED fake cigarettes worth more than £4k were discovered in a raid on an Oldbury shop - just weeks after officers raided the same store and confiscated £7k worth of products.
Police and trading standards found between £4k and £5k worth of illegal cigarettes at the shop on Monday (February 24).
It comes after 350 packets of suspected illegal cigarettes and tobacco worth around £7k were found at the same premises on February 6.
Most of the suspect tobacco products had been found in the kitchen of the premises, with others concealed in a jacket worn by the shopkeeper.
Oldbury Police tweeted yesterday: "Deja vu?
"2nd visit this year to the same shop in Oldbury.
"Officers from the Police and Trading Standards have seized another £4000 - £5000 worth of illegal cigarettes."
Deja vu? 2nd visit this year to the same shop in Oldbury. Officers from the Police and Trading Standards have seized another £4000 - £5000 worth of illegal cigarettes. @SandwellTS @sandwellcouncil @WMPolice @SmethwickWMP @RowleyWMP @SandwellNhoods @SandwellDecca pic.twitter.com/wExJeQP63K
— Oldbury Police (@OldburyWMP) February 24, 2020
The name of the shop cannot be revealed while an investigation is ongoing.
The sale of counterfeit goods is a serious criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
*Suspected counterfeit tobacco worth £7k found in raid on Oldbury shop
Anyone being offered cheap tobacco or any other types of illicit goods should report it to Trading Standards by calling the CEnTSA’s confidential fakes hotline on 0300 303 2636.
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