Sheffield tobacco traders rumbled by police sniffer dogs

One shop had built a hidden compartment with a hydraulic infra-red operating mechanism to open and close a false wall panel, while the other had them hidden in the top compartment of an electric oven under the hot plates

Trading standards officers and police with sniffer dogs found 278 packs of contraband cigarettes and 23 packs of hand rolling tobacco at the two shops.

The pair were together handed fines and ordered to pay court costs of around £1,800 for trading in illegal tobacco.

Sheffield City Council Trading Standards brought the prosecutions after an operation which saw raids on seven premises in the city.

Jack Scott, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “We often act on intelligence received from the public and the success of this operation shows that even the smallest piece of intelligence can make all the difference.

“Although the traders go to extraordinary lengths to hide their contraband, we are determined to find it.

“These highly trained tobacco dogs mean that no hiding place is safe.”

Hessen Por, of Veeno’s Supermarket, London Road, pleaded guilty to five specimen offences under the Trade Marks Act and was fined £150 and ordered to pay £725 in costs.

Hassan Mohammed, of Abbey Stop Shop, Abbeydale Road, admitted three specimen offences under the Trade Marks Act. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £623 in costs.

Anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco in Sheffield is advised to call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555111.

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