00:00Sniffing around on the hunt for illegal tobacco, Springer Spaniel Griff has a nose for illicit
00:07goods.
00:08Something he's been putting to good use with Medway Trading Standards and Kemp Police on
00:14a crackdown across the five towns.
00:20He's found something.
00:22Boarded up behind energy drinks, it's what enforcement were hoping to find.
00:27A stockpile of illegal cigarettes.
00:31These are just some of the 58,200 that were seized over two days.
00:39The sort of whole canine specialist Stu Phillips is used to after helping the council on raids
00:47for 14 years.
00:49The shops are getting more sophisticated, they're concealing the illegal tobacco products and
00:56pretty much the only way that you will find it is with a tobacco detection dog.
01:04This most recent operation saw £25,000 worth of goods taken off the streets.
01:12But finding where these dodgy products are being stashed is getting trickier.
01:18Those hiding illegal cigarettes will go to extraordinary lengths to cover their tracks.
01:25Some even try to mask the scent to throw off sniffer dogs.
01:31They're often referred to as James Bond type concealments and they are.
01:38These shops which are normally part of an organised crime group, they invest a lot of money into
01:45constructing concealments because they don't want what they're selling to be found.
01:50And that's where the dogs come into their own to be honest.
01:55Griff wasn't the only one on the scene alongside Stu.
01:59Cocker Spaniel Brand was also taking part in action across Chatham, Strood, Twiddle and Gillingham.
02:07Which saw one person arrested with investigations continuing.
02:11Those selling illegal tobacco can face penalties of up to £10,000 and even criminal prosecution in some cases.
02:21And these dogs play a key role in keeping consumers safe.
02:26Olly Lieder in Medway.
02:28Good boy.
02:29Good boy.
02:31Good boy.
02:32Good boy.
02:32Good boy.
02:32Good boy.
02:32Good boy.
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