Firework probe leads to £100,000 bust as 'illegal medical products' seized from shop

Around £100,000 worth of illegal items have been seized from a store in the Black Country. Police officers noticed the goods when they were called to the area to reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) involving fireworks.

They later returned to the store in Sandwell and reportedly found a host of illicit items including 'oversized' vapes, chewing tobacco, cannabis sweets and illicit medical products.

Sgt John Tranter, from the West Midlands Police Partnerships Team in Sandwell said: "As part of ASB Awareness Week we have intensified our day-to-day activity around anti-social behaviour.

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"We closely with our communities and partners to tackle a range of issues such as stores selling counterfeit products." A spokesperson for the force added: "West Midlands Police are working with Sandwell Council Trading Standards to identify shops in the area that are selling counterfeit and illegal products and taking action to disrupt and stop their illegal activity.

"This includes conducting intelligence-based inspections, seizing counterfeit and illegal products and potentially pursuing closure orders on stores that persistently ignore the law.

"Disposable vapes must have a tank capacity of no more than 2ml and no more than 650 puffs. It is likely that anything over 650 puffs will contain more than the legal volume limit and so should not be on sale."

Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, cllr Suzanne Hartwell, that illegal trading often has links to other criminal activity. She continued: "We are working closely with West Midlands Police, other organisations and our communities through the Safer Sandwell Partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour and keep our residents safe.

"The trade in illicit goods is not only harmful to businesses in the borough who are trading legally but also has strong links to other criminal activities. We want Sandwell to be a place where residents, workers and visitors can always feel safe.

"Illegal vapes, tobacco and other medical items can harm our residents' health, so it's vital we restrict their availability and protect our young people from these items. Illicit vapes are dangerous because they haven't gone through safety tests and there can be severe risks including dispensing too much nicotine, banned substances or encouraging over consumption."