Raid at Manchester house uncovers 800 ‘Viagra-style’ ED tablets and 20,000 illegal cigarettes

Trading standards officers swooped onto an address in Greater Manchester after receiving a tip-off regarding the illicit dealings of contraband at a pub in the surrounding area – all under the noses of management who were unaware of the rogue dealer at the pub.

Officials first monitored The Harbord Harbord pub in the heart of Middleton, Greater Manchester, and part of the JD Wetherspoon chain, after getting word of the illegal activities that were taking place there.

After watching the pub, they trailed the suspected rogue dealer to an address in nearby Langley. Then, they made their move and the officials raided the property.

There, they found a Samurai sword, a dagger and an air rifle. Further checks of the property uncovered a staggering 20,000 contraband cigarettes which were concealed in the linings of three sofas, hidden behind books, within divan drawers, and even stashed inside a bread bin.

In the midst of hidden packs of Ronson cigarettes that were being sold on for about £3, officials found 40 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 800 ‘sildigra-100’ tablets.

Sildigra-100 are Indian-produced erectile dysfunction tablets that contain sildenafil (Viagra’s active ingredient) but are not approved in the UK and as such, sale of them is illegal.

It was later discovered that no duty had been paid on any of the cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco found at the address, which were also said to be fake.

Following the raid, a 58-year-old male was immediately arrested on suspicion of counterfeiting. The man has been released on bail before further enquiries are carried out, but is due back at prison in December.

A massive £1.9b is lost every year by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs due to the huge trade in tobacco smuggling, partly fuelled by regular increases in tobacco price when each budget comes around. However, the illicit dealings are believed to be the cause of more serious illegal activity around the Greater Manchester area.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, cabinet member for regulation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Activities like this pose a clear risk to our communities. Drugs to treat medical problems should only be prescribed by a doctor and cigarettes should display all the appropriate health warnings.”
She added: “The profits derived from selling counterfeit goods are also often used to fund more serious criminal activity so we will continue to work with the police to stamp it out. I would urge members of the public to report anything suspicious by phoning the citizens advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06. Alternatively they can contact the police on 101.”