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Police dogs sniff out contraband worth £85,000

Rachel Russell
BBC News
Getty Images / Marka Close-up of a nose of a black Mongrel dog. Only the snout is visible and there is grey fur around the nose.Getty Images / Marka
A pair of police dogs sniffed out 44,840 cigarettes, 358 pouches of rolling tobacco and 3,300 vapes

A pair of police dogs have sniffed out £85,000-worth of illegal tobacco and vapes around Hull.

Humberside Police carried out an operation with trading standards officers last week, and Griff the springer and Cooper the labrador were part of the team.

They found 44,840 cigarettes worth an estimated retail value of more than £37,000, 358 pouches of rolling tobacco worth an estimated £15,000, and 3,300 vapes worth £33,000.

Shops in Endike Lane, Beverley Road, Marfleet Lane, Spring Bank and Gipsyville in Hull were checked, as was a container on Freightliner Road.

Humberside Police Two pictures of dogs - one a brown and white springer spaniel and one a yellow labrador - sniffing for contraband.Humberside Police
Griff the springer and Cooper the labrador sniffed out the illegal tobacco and vapes

Sgt Andy Waller said: "Thousands of pounds-worth of illegal tobacco and vapes were seized thanks to the expert nose of tobacco dogs Griff and Cooper sniffing them out, even when some were concealed within the premises.

"Any counterfeit products, including vapes, can be very dangerous as they are not subject to the rigorous safety standards imposed on goods sold legally."

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