An operation using specially trained dogs to sniff out illegal tobacco has landed the owners of three Gloucester shops in court.

The operation on Saturday, March 25 was conducted by officers from Gloucestershire Trading Standards Service, along with the Police and HMRC.

In total, more than 6,000 cigarettes, 302 packs and 4kg, 82 pouches of hand rolling tobacco were seized by Trading Standards officers.

The operation was launched following ‘test purchases’ which confirmed that the shops – Wisla in Barton Street, Istanbul Mini Market and First Choice Off Licence, both in Eastgate Street - were selling illegal tobacco.

During the search of the premises officers used tobacco detecting dogs, supplied by Wagtail UK, specially trained to locate tobacco hidden within shop premises.

The shop owners appearing before Stroud Magistrates Court as a result of the operation were:

· Nihad Karim, 26, of Wisla, 207-209 Barton Street, Gloucester

· Ali Rostam, 34, of Istanbul Mini Market, 110 Eastgate St, Gloucester, and

· Sercan Kupeli, 23, of First Choice Off Licence, 122 Eastgate St, Gloucester

A fourth individual, Zerik Ismail, 31, of Erbil Mini Market, High Street, Gloucester, also appeared in court as a result of a seizure of illegal tobacco on 2nd June 2014 following a tip-off from the public.

Kupeli was ordered to pay £600 in fines and costs and Ismail £303.60. Karim was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £145.

Rostam failed to appear and a warrant without bail was issued for his arrest.

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: “Illegal tobacco can mean cheap tobacco – and the cheaper it is the more likely local people are to continue smoking instead of cutting down or stopping.

“Combined with this the sale of illegal tobacco harms legitimate traders businesses.”

If residents have any concerns about tobacco products being sold at shops in the county, they should report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or if they wish to remain anonymous by using the trading standards website or via www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.