In February 2016 Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards seized 100 packs of 20 cigarettes and 3kg of rolling tobacco from the Micklefield Superstore, Gayhurst Road, High Wycombe.

They were found in a filing cabinet in the storage room by Trading Standards tobacco detection dog Buster, from the specialist company Wagtail. All had foreign labels from Poland, Malaysia, Germany and Holland, but did not bear the correct written or pictorial warnings that must be on products sold in the UK.

Shopkeeper Surja Singh Sethi admitted two charges of possessing cigarettes and tobacco that were not marked with warnings required by the Tobacco Products regulations.

He said he had bought the tobacco from a Polish man who came into his shop trying to sell the products. Trading Standards officers have not been able to trace the man.

Trading Standards said the value of the cigarettes and tobacco was around £1,350, but as genuine UK labelled products they would have a value of £2,020. Magistrates ordered that the seized goods be destroyed.

Martin Phillips, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, praised Trading Standards officers for their detection work.

He said: ‘The trade in illegal tobacco puts people’s health at risk not to mention undermining reputable businesses, and we’re committed to firm action whenever we can against those involved in it. Let this sentence be a lesson to anyone who thinks they can flout this law.‘

Some of the tobacco goods seized by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards.