Shropshire Star

Polish shop in Market Drayton raided for third time in six months

Illegally imported cigarettes and tobacco have been seized from an off licence after the third raid by police in the space of six months.

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The goods were found by officers at Magdalenka, a Polish shop on Shropshire Street in Market Drayton. A sniffer dog was used to help find the goods hidden away behind a mirror in a secret compartment in the wall, as well as stashed in dust bins.

Police have said the owners "haven't learned their lesson", and while Shropshire Council's trading standards declined to comment it is understood officers are considering launching a prosecution.

No-one from the shop was available to comment.

The raid on Tuesday (JULY 29) was carried out to support officers from Shropshire Council public protection service, who suspected the shop had illicit tobacco products.

And with sniffer dog Murphy on hand to help, the team uncovered the range of different hiding places that were being used.

Images of the findings were then released by police via Twitter.

Grant Tunnadine, investigations team manager with public protection, said: "With Murphy there to indicate the presence of tobacco, it enables us to direct our attention to specific areas within the area we're investigating.

"All our work into the illegal trade of tobacco is making it clear that the people involved are resorting to quite ingenious methods to hide the illicit product, but all that effort is worthless really because with the dog on board we will find it, seize it and take action against those involved where appropriate."

Constable Mick Sturland, of West Mercia Police's safer neighbourhood team (SNT) for the town, said that while it's not unheard of, they don't expect to have to make multiple visits

He said: "It's pretty rare that we have to visit more than once.

"Usually shops get a visit from us and if they get found selling illegally imported things, that's the end of it.

"But clearly this shop still hasn't learned its lesson.

"The second time we raided the shop we used sniffer dogs to find the products and we did the same this time.

"I believe trading standards are now looking at prosecuting, and we are looking at taking their licence off them.

"The penalties can be very large and they can run the risk of losing a licence - it is just not worth it."

Last month raids were carried out across Shropshire, and tobacco worth black market value of £7,000 was found two shops in Oswestry and Market Drayton.

Police are now calling on the public to be aware of the problems that these products can cause.

Constable Sturland said: "If you knowingly buy something that has been illegally imported then the penalties can also be large.

"It really isn't worth it at all."

Investigations into the sale and supply of the products at this store are continuing.

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