This is the moment an officer discovered cigarettes hidden in a secret underfloor lift as part of shop raids that uncovered nearly £50,000 of illegal goods.
Illicit cigarettes, rolling tobacco, disposable vapes and shisha devices were found across seven different shops last month in Barnet, north London.
One business had built a hydraulic lift beneath the store’s flooring to hide shelves stacked full of cigarettes.
Another venue attempted to hide its products in a nearby vehicle, but staff were caught out by undercover officers conducting test purchases.
The raids by Barnet Council’s Trading Standards, which were in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police, resulted in the seizure of nearly £48,000 worth of items.
traders should not be making a quick buck at residents’ expense
This included more than 2,000 packets of cigarettes, 10kg of tobacco, nearly 900 illegal vapes and 1kg of shisha tobacco.
Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “Our Trading Standards officers regularly conduct test purchases to ensure Barnet’s shops are trading fairly and not dealing in illegal or counterfeit goods.
“Barnet should be a safe place for everyone and traders should not be making a quick buck at residents’ expense.”
The authority will be considering a full range of actions against the businesses it seized illicit products from during the raids on May 30, including prosecution and closure orders.
