A sniffer dog’s diligent nose helped to smell out a stash of more than 5,000 illegal cigarettes hidden behind the counter of a Moston shop.
On May 9 last year, Manchester council officers swooped on Euro Market in Moston Lane following a tip-off about the sale of illicit tobacco.
The trading standards team were joined by tobacco detecting dog Bertie, whose instincts pointed him to a seemingly empty stock room at the back of the store.
It was there that officers found an additional stash of illegal tobacco inside a cupboard, bringing the total amount seized to 750g of rolling tobacco and 5,057 cigarettes.
The tobacco was subject to a forfeiture order and destroyed.
Shop owner Marcin Wenderski, 40, of Greenroyd Avenue, Bolton, was taken into custody and charged with trademark and tobacco regulation offences.
Wenderski pleaded guilty to all charges at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 18, and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for one year.
He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the year, and pay costs of £1,130 and a victim surcharge of £115.
The haul has been held as a major achievement for the council as part of a Greater Manchester-wide crackdown on illegal tobacco sales.
Illegal tobacco sales can include:
- Genuine UK brands brought into the country with no duty paid
- Illicit whites - cigarettes manufactured for the sole purpose of being smuggled into and sold illegally in another country.
- Counterfeit - illegally manufactured and made to look like recognised brands.
The regional campaign ‘Keep It Out’ also highlights that the sale of illegal tobacco is not a victimless crime, with its low price enticing young people to take up the habit and expose themselves to health issues.
There are also known links between the importation of illegal tobacco and criminal gangs who profit from its sale.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, executive member for neighbourhoods at Manchester councl, said: “Smoking is lethal, and continued easy access to illegal tobacco does nothing but shorten the lives of Mancunians and put money in the hands of criminals.
“The Keep It Out campaign has been invaluable in raising awareness of the dangers associated with illegal tobacco, but what this prosecution shows is that it pays off for us to always be vigilant.
“Credit is due to our trading standards officers and legal team for securing this successful conviction.
“I hope this sends the message that if you’re selling illegal tobacco you won’t get away with your crime.”
