Dog helps police track down illegal vape stashes
Thousands of illegal vapes, cigarettes and tobacco were seized as part of a multi-agency operation.
Police officers, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards and HMRC were assisted by Wagtail dogs, who were trained to detect tobacco, in the crackdown.
During inspections in Ely, Soham and Littleport on Tuesday, 3,171 illegal vapes and 32,000 cigarettes were seized.
Some of the vapes had oversized tanks and incorrect labelling, and others had not been notified to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. There were also tobacco products without the correct warnings and labelling in English.
Over the last two years, Trading Standards has seized about 13,000 illegal vapes and more than 100,000 illegal cigarettes across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Sgt Mat Lupton-Pike, from the East Cambs Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Illicit cigarettes, vapes and tobacco pose a serious risk to health as well as fuelling funding for other related criminal activity.
"We ask the public to continue to report any information or concerns to us.
"The more information we have, the more efficient we can be at targeting those causing harm to our communities."
Peter Gell, service director, regulatory services for Cambridgeshire County Council said: "These ongoing, targeted enforcement operations send a clear message to the organised crime gangs that the sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products will not be tolerated in Cambridgeshire, and that Trading Standards, the police and HMRC are committed to taking a hard line with anyone we uncover perpetrating these crimes."
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes seized
More than 1,700 single-use vapes seized from shop
Thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes seized
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
UK police reviewing rapper's anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury Festival
LONDON (AP) — British police said they were examining videos of a band that led chants of 'death to the IDF' or Israel Defense Forces at Saturday's Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds attending the festival in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF." Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence would be assessed by officers 'to determine whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." The Israeli Embassy to the U.K. said on social media that it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival." Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned the band's actions as 'appalling." He told Sky News that the BBC and festival organizers had to answer questions about how the comments were broadcast live to millions. The government said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance. The BBC said it issued a warning on screen about 'very strong and discriminatory language' during the live stream. Saturday's festival lineup also included Irish-language rap group Kneecap, which gave an impassioned performance for tens of thousands of fans despite criticism by British politicians and a terror charge for one of the trio. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged under the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London in November. The rapper, who was charged under the anglicized version of his name, Liam O'Hanna, is on unconditional bail before a further court hearing in August. The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements, especially since videos emerged allegedly showing the band shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' and calling on people to kill lawmakers. On Saturday band members led the audience in chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara.' They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn't think it was 'appropriate' for Kneecap to play Glastonbury. About 200,000 ticket holders have turned up in southwest England for Britain's most prestigious summer music festival, which features almost 4,000 performers on 120 stages.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
UK police reviewing rapper's anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury Festival
LONDON — British police said they were examining videos of a band that led chants of 'death to the IDF' or Israel Defense Forces at Saturday's Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds attending the festival in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF.'
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
UK police reviewing rapper's anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury Festival
LONDON (AP) — British police said they were examining videos of a band that led chants of 'death to the IDF' or Israel Defense Forces at Saturday's Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds attending the festival in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF.' Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence would be assessed by officers 'to determine whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' The Israeli Embassy to the U.K. said on social media that it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned the band's actions as 'appalling.' He told Sky News that the BBC and festival organizers had to answer questions about how the comments were broadcast live to millions. The government said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance. The BBC said it issued a warning on screen about 'very strong and discriminatory language' during the live stream. Saturday's festival lineup also included Irish-language rap group Kneecap, which gave an impassioned performance for tens of thousands of fans despite criticism by British politicians and a terror charge for one of the trio. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged under the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London in November. The rapper, who was charged under the anglicized version of his name, Liam O'Hanna, is on unconditional bail before a further court hearing in August. The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements, especially since videos emerged allegedly showing the band shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' and calling on people to kill lawmakers. On Saturday band members led the audience in chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara.' They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn't think it was 'appropriate' for Kneecap to play Glastonbury. About 200,000 ticket holders have turned up in southwest England for Britain's most prestigious summer music festival, which features almost 4,000 performers on 120 stages.
