THE work of Thurrock Council's trading standards team has expanded to take in searching for illegal imports at London Gateway port.

Tobacco detection dogs Dora and Grace will be working to detect illegal vapes at the border point.

The dogs are highly effective at finding hidden, illicit stock in shops, storage units, and vehicles.

As part of a new initiative to tackle the import of illegal vapes before they reach the high street, the two dogs were taken down to London Gateway Port lazst where they were able to inspect recently arrived containers and the fast parcel hub.

The next day the dogs were out with the rest of the Trading Standards team and Essex Police and assisted Trading Standards officers in discovering illicit tobacco hidden in a concealed cupboard at a retail outlet within the borough.

These items, along with several bags of illegal nicotine, vape and tobacco pouch products, were seized. Investigations are ongoing.

Cllr Lynda Heath, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Constitutional and Civic Affairs, said: "Selling these illegal and unsafe products is not a victimless crime. We need operations like this to help protect our communities, especially young people, from these products and also support those honest local businesses who follow the rule of law.

"Starting regular searches at the Gateway Port is a welcome addition to our work to keep these products off our high streets." 

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The action was part of the joint HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and National Trading Standards initiative, Operation CeCe, which has been working to seize illicit tobacco since January 2021. The work at ports is part of the National Trading Standards work at the border against illicit vapes.

If anyone has any information about the sale of illicit tobacco or illegal vapes you can report it by calling 0808 223 1133 or through our website: Report Illegal Tobacco and Vapes | Trading Standards for consumers | Thurrock Council

Residents can also report underage tobacco or vape sale at Underage sales of cigarettes and tobacco | Underage sales | Thurrock Council