Published: Monday 7 September 2026
Three specialist sniffer dogs have helped us seize more than 1,500 illicit and counterfeit goods during a day of raids on shops across the borough.
Spaniels Lily, eight, Zigi, four, and Hugo, three, joined the Council’s Trading Standards officers on Wednesday 2 September as they targeted businesses suspected of selling illicit tobacco.
The four-legged “paw patrol” helped officers uncover more than 1,300 illicit cigarettes at three shops in Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove and South Kensington.
What else was found during the raids?
Further searches uncovered 140 tobacco sticks, nine counterfeit Labubu dolls, nine illegal vapes, seven tobacco pouches and three unsafe travel adaptors. In total, officers seized 1,514 items, and are now considering the appropriate formal action to take.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Resident Services, Planning and Enforcement, said:
“Lily, Zigi and Hugo did a brilliant job sniffing out goods that shouldn’t have been on our streets – but there is a serious point behind this paw patrol.
“Illegal tobacco isn’t a victimless trade. Residents should be able to trust that what they are buying is genuine and safe, while honest businesses shouldn’t have to compete with people who don’t play by the rules.
“We will keep using intelligence, targeted inspections and every tool available to us to track down illicit goods and take swift and decisive action against those who put profit over safety.”
Why did the raids take place?
The visits formed part of Operation CeCe, a joint initiative involving the Council, HMRC and National Trading Standards to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.
The operation followed intelligence gathered by our Trading Standards team before the inspections. Businesses found selling counterfeit or illicit goods can face further investigation and prosecution by the local authority.
How can you report concerns about illegal goods?
Anyone with concerns about counterfeit or illicit goods can report them to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or email [email protected]