Magnetic panel hid illegal cigarettes
THOUSANDS of illegal cigarettes were
hidden behind a magnetic panel powered by a phone charger at a shop in
Kensington.
They were discovered with the help of specially trained search dogs, which were
taking part in an operation led by Liverpool City Council's Alcohol and Tobacco
Unit targeting the Kensington and Norris Green areas.
Shops were targeted as a result of information received from members of the
public. At the 1st premises in Kensington, 3120 illicit cigarettes and
7.7litres of smuggled vodka were seized.
At this shop the search dog indicated to a plastic partition behind a shelving
unit within the retail area. On inspection officers found the partition to be
solid and did not seem as though it had been tampered with.
A second search dog was brought into the shop and again indicated to the same
area. Officers continued to search the area around the partition until they
discovered a wooden panel which at 1st glance seemed to form part of the wall.
Closer inspection revealed an electric cable leading from the partition to a
telephone charging device plugged into a nearby socket. Once the device was
switched off the wooden panel detached revealing the stash of illicit
cigarettes.
Officers using search dogs in Norris Green seized 3.7kg of counterfeit hand
rolling tobacco.
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neigbourhoods, said:- "Alcohol
and Tobacco Unit officers have been stepping up these type of operations in key
areas of the City where information received indicates a significant trade in
illicit tobacco.
We will continue these operations as illicit tobacco sales damage key Public
Health initiatives and smoking cessation programmes across the City. Legal
proceedings will follow as a result of these seizures. Our message to retailers
is do not sell illegal tobacco products, not only are these harmful to health,
but you will end up in court."
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