Illegal vapes and illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of £8,000 were seized from a shop in Rubery in a partnership operation.

Officers from Rubery Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) joined lead organisation Worcestershire Trading Standards; fire safety officers and Bromsgrove District Council on Wednesday 15 May at the American Candy store on New Road.

The visit followed community concerns around the suspected illegal selling of vapes to under 18s and the selling of illegal vapes. 

Officers discovered illegal vapes as well as counterfeit tobacco products were being sold at the premises, some of which had been concealed in ‘hidden’ compartments within the units/fittings of the shop.

Trading Standards seized seven bags of illegal vapes with an estimated street value of £7,500 together with illicit tobacco products with an estimated value of £500 as part of their investigation.

Police Sergeant Katie Ward, of Rubery SNT, said: “This was a highly successful multi-agency operation with multiple illegal cigarettes and vapes taken off our streets, halting criminal activity and safeguarding our communities.

“This disruption is a real positive action that will help to prevent and stop the sale of illegal vapes to both children and adults.

“We were acting upon community concerns, and it was good to receive some positive comments from Rubery residents as we were carrying out the visit.

“Further enquiries will now be made with the shop premises’ owners and those running the business seeking to deal with any outstanding offences.

“The sale of counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes are linked to organised crime gangs. We will not tolerate any criminal operations in our area and urge anyone with information about them to report it via our website at Report A Crime .”

Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-org.uk .