Thousands of illegal goods seized under Operation Cloud

Published: Tuesday, 21st January 2025

The Council’s trading standards team are leading an operation to combat the sale of illicit and illegal products which cause harm to users, under the name Operation Cloud.

Operation Cloud has been operational since September 2024, where trading standards and selective licencing teams have visited numerous retailers, along with West Midlands Police seizing vapes, nitrous oxide, cigarettes, drugs, and other goods in a clampdown to rid Birmingham of illegal trading operations.

The raids come as part of the ongoing efforts of the Council and partners to tackle crime and improve the quality of life for people living and working in Birmingham.

The operation focuses on the sale of vapes and nitrous oxide, which is a national issue and police forces and local authorities are working together to eradicate these items nationally.

Additionally, the sale of these items leads to an increase in anti-social behaviour, which leaves long-term effects in the community, often relating to sales of restricted items to underage children.

Paramount to the Council’s objective is community safety and partnership working to eradicate these items from the streets of Birmingham.

Since the start of Operation Cloud, the Council has seized thousands of items, including:

  • 10,374 illicit vapes,
  • 236 large bottles of nitrous oxide, plus associated materials,
  • 18,916 packets of cigarettes, equating to 378,320 single cigarettes,
  • 2,730 packets of tobacco,
  • Class B drugs (seized by Police),
  • 187 packets of oral snuff (unlicensed tobacco related substance) and
  • Thousands of unlicenced pills.

One of the properties visited uncovered items found hidden behind a fake wall in the shop as well as in a flat protected by a metal door. Another property identified two unlicensed privately rented accommodations, and as a result, the landlord was informed of the intention to impose a significant financial penalty of up to £30,000 per offence per unlicensed accommodation.

Significant hazards were identified in relation to the condition and safety of each accommodation, and these issues were referred to the relevant internal and external agencies to safeguard the tenants.

Further to the seizures, 8 arrests have been made, and an unlicenced and untaxed vehicle was seized.

In total so far, Operation Cloud has removed items to the street value of nearly £5.7 million, with one raid resulting in £1 million worth of goods seized, the biggest of its kind in the city.

Earlier this month, West Midlands Police launched a pilot initiative dedicated to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Erdington. This initiative, Operation Fearless, works in partnership with the Council and others to combat burglary, theft, anti-social behaviour, and drug-related offences.

Communities will see an increase in high-visibility patrols, including detectives, response officers, and neighbourhood policing teams, available 24/7 to respond to incidents and investigate crimes.

As part of Operation Fearless, the Council’s trading standards team and WMP visited a property on Erdington High Street, resulting in a seizure of 7,545 vapes, 134kg of tobacco, 329,740 single cigarettes and more than 300 boxes of imported prescription drugs – which were unsafe for use in the UK. Thousands of pounds were also recovered.

Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “Operation Cloud aims to eradicate the selling and distribution of illicit goods as they blight our communities and pose a dangerous threat to young people.

“It is concerning that we are now finding vapes which have a puff count up to18000+, which is considerably over the legal limit, which is 600 puffs for 2mg of nicotine.

“When young people use illegal vapes, they are putting their long-term health at risk, which we have seen terrible outcomes of in recent months. We will continue working with West Midlands Police to combat illegal sales.”

Sajeela Naseer, Director of Regulation & Enforcement, said: “Our recent activities have shown partnership work at its best. In conjunction with West Midlands Police and Birmingham Property Licensing Team, Trading Standards led on Operation Cloud, where the operation focussed on disrupting a major distribution of illicit harmful goods from organised crime groups in the area.

“The goals of organised crime groups are to generate revenue through illegal trade and not putting the local community welfare and safety first. We will continue to work in synergy with our partners to clamp down on this illicit trade.”

If you wish to make a report, contact the Council’s Trading Standards Team on 0121 303 9360 or the West Midlands Police on 101.

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