Police seized dozens of cartons of counterfeit cigarettes from several stores kept in "hidden compartments" last week.
Last Friday, Merseyside Police visited several stores in Birkenhead after receiving reports of shops selling fake cigarettes and other tobacco products to underage people. Police, with officers from Wirral Council's trading standards, discovered hidden compartments within some of the shops during their search.
The hidden compartments contained dozens of cartons of counterfeit cigarettes, as well as many boxes of other counterfeit tobacco products including rolling tobacco. The officers confiscated the counterfeit goods after the discovery.
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Police said suspected offenders would be dealt with by the council's trading standards department.
On the day officers also visited several anti-social behaviour hotspots alongside local councillors. They were there to discuss the police's future plans to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.
Police also visited Newling Street to reassure residents after a large police presence was in the road last week.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Officers visited known anti-social behaviour hotspots with local councillors and Wirral Council to discuss future plans with the aim to reduce this type of crime in specific areas and to support local residents.
"We have also visited Newling Street today along with Wirral Community Patrol to engage and reassure the community following a large police presence in the street last week, which led to arrests and charges being made.
"Various stores in the area have also been visited by officers today after receiving intelligence from the local community that several stores are selling counterfeit cigarettes and selling tobacco products to underage persons. Officers were accompanied by Wirral Council Trading Standards, WAGGS Tobacco Dog, and United Utilities.
"With the support from our partners, officers have seized a number of counterfeit cigarettes from hidden compartments within the stores. The owners of each store will be dealt with via Wirral Council Trading Standards and some are to also be dealt with via United Utilities revenue."
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