Bodycam footage from trading standards officers shows the lengths that illegal tobacco and vape dealers go to in order to avoid capture.
Not only are they often stored in areas with evidence of rat infestation, but elaborate hiding places are created.
“Witness the appalling conditions in a shop we raided last year, where stacks of vape boxes were sullied with rat urine and droppings. This example isn’t just a one-off unfortunately; it’s a glimpse into the unsanitary and substandard storage practices that plague many such establishments.
“It’s grim viewing that would make anyone think twice before reaching for a bargain,” said a South Holland Police spokesman.
Operation Nivada is run with police and trading standards officers from the local authority and the footage is being posted by police on social media.
One clip shows an officer activating a hidden microswitch which allows a radiator to be pulled from the wall and reveals illegal products held in the void that has been created behind it.
Another is taken in a dank and dirty outhouse, with evidence of rats, where vapes are laying on the floor of the unclean room.
The police say that the shops selling illegal goods are often a front for serious criminality including money laundering and human trafficking.
“Many of the shop workers are victims, trafficked into crime by profiteers. These illegal activities harm legitimate businesses and fund other crimes, often monopolising high street spaces, driving out lawful small businesses. Our communities bear the brunt, facing anti-social behaviour, underage sales and drug offences.
“Criminals go to great lengths to hide their illicit goods. The catalogue of videos reveals some of the devious tactics used to hide their underworld activity.
“Many of these shops are run by highly coordinated organised crime gangs, underscoring the gravity and sophistication of the criminal activities we’re confronting.”
The police are working with local councils and say the shops aren’t licensed, so the council is ‘powerless in determining which businesses can open on their streets.
Andy Wright, principal trading standards officer said: “We are aware that we need towards a long-term solution and that closure orders are only a temporary fix. With that in mind, we will seek assurances from landlords to ensure their premises are removed from the cycle of criminal activity that we have seen to date.”
To report suspected illegal activity call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or use the Crimestoppers or police websites.
