Sniffer dog uncovers various illegal goods in Whitechapel

The four-year-old springer spaniel, named Skye, found the stash during an enforcement operation last month.

While patrolling with trading standards officers, Skye detected a suspicious scent coming from a locked box attached to a bike outside a shop.

Abu Talha Chowdhury, cabinet member for public protection and integrated enforcement, said: "Counterfeit cigarettes, unregulated vapes, and unlicensed medicines can be really dangerous and have no place on our high streets.

"We take a proactive approach to smoke out illegal trading in Tower Hamlets and regularly use sniffer dogs, so there’s no place for such trading to hide.

"I’d like to thank our trading standards team and Skye who played a hero’s role in helping to keep our communities safe."

The box, which appeared to be for deliveries, was found to contain 233 packets of illicit cigarettes, seven packets of smokeless tobacco, 14 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco, 24 illegal vapes and 80 unlicensed Viagra tablets.

The discovery was part of a wider two-day crackdown by Tower Hamlets Council targeting counterfeit and unsafe goods.

The operation led to the seizure of 5,840 illicit cigarettes, 418 illegal vapes, 2,055 packets of smokeless chewing tobacco and 80 unlicensed and potentially dangerous Viagra tablets.

Skye is part of a new dog patrol service launched in February as part of Tower Hamlets’ £8 million anti-crime task force.

The task force is a joint initiative with the police to support community safety through weapons sweeps, drug disruption, and vehicle checks.

Members of the public are encouraged to report businesses selling illegal tobacco, vapes, or medicines.

Reports can be made anonymously via the Tower Hamlets Council website.