Sniffer dogs expose 8 Tameside shops in illegal vape and tobacco crackdown

Meet Fred, Sky and Dora who yesterday ( 16 March) helped uncover £15k worth of illegal tobacco products from eight shops in Hyde, Denton and Ashton.

The Wagtail sniffer dogs joined Tameside Council trading standards officers and Greater Manchester Police on the joint operation.

Officers carried out spot checks on businesses where intelligence and information provided by the local community pointed towards illegal activity.

Fred, Sky and Dora helped to reveal concealed hiding places in the premises and a total of 703 illegal vapes, 28,405 illegal cigarettes and 14.1kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco, four pouches of illegal shisha tobacco and 22 counterfeit toys seized were seized.

Further investigations are continuing and appropriate enforcement action will be taken against the premises.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods Cllr Laura Boyle said: “This operation reflects great team work with our partners and local residents to uncover illegal activity that is harming our community and hold those responsible accountable. A special thanks goes to the Wagtail dogs who are our superpower in uncovering premises selling illegal products – there is no hiding from their highly trained detection skills.

“The illegal tobacco trade supports crime rings, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people. We work closely with businesses to support them to meet their public protection duties and ensure they are compliant, but where they are found to be flouting the law, we will take enforcement action.”