£150,000 of illegal cigarettes and goods seized from Erdington High Street shops

More than £150,000 worth of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and counterfeit goods have been seized from three shops on Erdington High Street.

Officers from Operation Fearless and the Erdington neighbourhood team worked with Birmingham City Council's trading standards team on three days in early October. They searched the three stores and vehicles linked to them.

What was found

The teams seized:

• more than 150,000 illicit cigarettes
• thousands of packets of hand-rolling tobacco
• unlicensed and counterfeit goods, including tablets and energy drinks

The total value is more than £150,000, and an investigation into the shops and the people involved is continuing.

"Putting the public at risk"

Detective Sergeant Chloe Morgan, from Operation Fearless, said: "Joint operations like this are so important in acting on community concerns around shops selling illegal goods, profiting from them and putting the public at risk."

"Neighbourhood officers are based in Erdington and have excellent knowledge within the community. They are listening to locals, and we are all working together alongside local authority partners to act."

Operation Fearless has been working in Erdington since January 2025 and has renewed its commitment to tackling organised crime on the high street.

"Op Fearless has a proud history of serving the Erdington community, we know how important the High Street is to everyone in Erdington, and we urge locals to keep passing on information and concerns so we can continue to protect legitimate businesses and keep the public from harm," DS Morgan said.

Why it matters

Illicit tobacco is sold far below the price of legal products because no duty has been paid on it. Trading standards teams warn that it undercuts honest shopkeepers, makes it easier for children to get hold of cigarettes, and is often linked to wider organised crime. Counterfeit products can also be unsafe, because there is no check on what they contain or how they were made.

Unlicensed tablets carry their own risks. Medicines bought outside pharmacies and licensed sellers may contain the wrong dose, the wrong ingredients or nothing useful at all.

Erdington High Street has been one of the city's focus areas for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and the council has used closure orders on problem premises there. Shops found selling illegal goods can face prosecution, fines and the loss of their licences.

How to report it

Anyone with concerns about shops selling illegal tobacco, vapes or counterfeit goods can report them to trading standards through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, or to the police on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.