Two sniffer dogs have uncovered thousands of illegal cigarettes at three shops in Bury and another store in Prestwich.

Billy and Lilly are specially trained springers who successfully sniffed out 17,000 illegal cigarettes and 7.95kg of illicit hand-rolling tobacco, which had been hidden in secret compartments.

Council officers also seized 1,800 illicit vapes in a haul worth a street value of £33,000.

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The enforcement action took place under Operation CeCe, a national trading standards scheme in partnership with HM Revenue and Customs to tackle illegal tobacco.

Trading standards, licensing officers and Greater Manchester Police officers in Bury joined forces to target these shops after receiving reports from the public that tobacco was being sold "under the counter".

Investigations are still ongoing and enforcement officers want to remind retailers that action will be taken against those selling illegal tobacco.

Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, the economy and skills at the council, said: “I’d like to commend this fantastic work by officers from the council and the police.

“This is just the latest in a series of operations to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes.

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“We have further action planned and we’ll be bringing these amazing sniffer dogs with us to hunt out these products, no matter how well hidden.

“There’s a high price to pay for these ‘cheap’ purchases.

“Illegal tobacco is often linked to organised crime, with links to human trafficking, the drugs trade and loan sharks.

“This brings crime into our communities and exploits vulnerable people.

“It also leads to children getting hooked on a potentially lethal habit, and undermines smokers’ attempts to quit.

“If anyone knows where cheap tobacco is being sold, often as ‘duty free’, please get in touch.

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“We will take action wherever and whenever we find illegal tobacco.”

The Keep it Out campaign, which reveals the true cost of "cheap" illegal tobacco, including links to organised crime and the devastating impact smoking has on people’s health, is being run by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, in collaboration with Local Authority Trading Standards and enforcement partners in the North. To find out more, visit keep-it-out.co.uk.

The sale of illegal tobacco can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at keep-it-out.co.uk.

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