Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards team, working alongside West Midlands Police, has carried out a series of major enforcement actions under the ongoing Operation Cloud initiative, targeting the sale of illegal and harmful goods across the city.
Last month, warrants were executed at a business premises in Kings Heath and at two vehicles linked to the operation. The coordinated action resulted in the seizure of 40 large nitrous oxide bottles and associated paraphernalia, 600 illicit vapes, 17 packets of oral snuff, and 80 unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets. One vehicle was seized, forced entry was made into another, and a male suspect was arrested at the scene.
The same premises had been raided in November 2024, when illicit goods were also seized. Following last month’s repeat discovery, a three-month closure order has been issued due to community concerns about anti-social behaviour.
On 7 August, Trading Standards continued their crackdown with two further enforcement operations in Erdington, supported by a trained detection dog. Intelligence-led visits uncovered 1,666 illegal vapes, 5,624 packets of illicit cigarettes (112,480 cigarette sticks), and 992 counterfeit tobacco pouches, with a combined street value of £125,000. Another vehicle storing illegal goods was also seized.
Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said:
“This latest raid demonstrated our unwavering commitment to protecting Birmingham’s communities from the dangers of illegal goods. These products were not only harmful to individuals – particularly young people – but also fuelled anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in our neighbourhoods.”
Launched in September 2024, Operation Cloud is a city-wide crackdown on illicit vapes, nitrous oxide, counterfeit tobacco, and other dangerous products. To date, it has removed nearly £7 million worth of illegal goods from circulation. The initiative has intensified in recent months, particularly in response to the 1 June 2025 ban on the sale of single-use vapes.