Paw patrol: Detection dog sniffs out thousands of illegal cigarettes
GOTCHA!: Detection dog Griff sniffs out some illegal cigarettes
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A total of 718,968 counterfeit cigarettes, tobacco pouches and vapes have been seized in Hull so far this year.
The most prolific month was May, when 231,420 cigarettes, 1,369 tobacco pouches and 84 vapes were confiscated. This followed the deployment of a detection dog called Griff, who sniffed out spurious goods from several “well-concealed” spots.
It follows a series of operations by public protection officers from Hull City Council working with Humberside Police to disrupt the sale of illicit products destined for the streets.
In 2025 almost 4.1 million cigarettes, 13,114 tobacco pouches and 32,560 vapes were seized.
Councillor Ted Dolman, whose portfolio includes public protection, said: “We continue to see fantastic work from this team, taking dangerous goods off the streets as quickly as they arrive. Last year, they were nationally recognised for their work, making it to the final of the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.
“In May, they undertook a large-scale seizure, targeting ten different retail premises with lock-up units. Using detection dogs, they managed to unearth these illicit goods from very sophisticated concealments.
“Removing illicit tobacco from sale really is vital. It funds organised crime, prevents people quitting and attracts children due to its price, and does not undergo the same safety checks as legal products.
“Last year was a phenomenal one for the team. They outperformed any other authority within our region, building on the good work of previous years. Figures for seizures so far in 2026, make it clear they are working just as hard this year.
“While we would prefer the city to be free of counterfeit items in the first place, it is extremely good news that the teams are able to seize them so successfully.”
People can report sales of illicit tobacco anonymously to Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or via keepitout.co.uk.