Latest news with #AbuTalhaChowdhury
The Independent
03-07-2025
- The Independent
Sniffer dog finds potentially dangerous pills in bike box
A sniffer dog named Skye discovered a cache of illegal cigarettes, vapes, and unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets in Whitechapel, east London. The four-year-old springer spaniel detected suspicious smells from a locked bike box outside a shop on 11 June. The disguised bike box contained 10,000 illegal cigarettes, 1,000 illegal vapes, and 1,000 unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets, described by councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury as potentially 'really dangerous'. This seizure was part of a two-day crackdown by Tower Hamlets Council 's Trading Standards team, which confiscated a total of 100,000 illegal cigarettes and 10,000 illegal vapes. The operation is part of Tower Hamlets ' 8 million Anti-Crime Task Force, a joint initiative with the police to enhance community safety and disrupt illegal trading.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- The Independent
‘Hero' hound sniffs out erectile dysfunction pills
A sniffer dog has been praised as a 'hero' for discovering a stash of illegal cigarettes, vapes and unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets during an enforcement operation in east London. The trained four-year-old springer spaniel, known as Skye, detected suspicious smells from a locked bike box outside a shop in Whitechapel while on patrol with officers on 11 June. The box appeared to be an ordinary delivery bike box but in reality was a covert cache of illicit goods, according to Tower Hamlets Council. The box contained: 33 packets of illicit cigarettes 7 packets of smokeless tobacco 14 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco 24 illegal vapes 80 unlicensed erectile tablets These 'can be really dangerous and have no place on our high streets', councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury said. 'I'd like to thank our Trading Standards team and Skye who played a hero's role in helping to keep our communities safe.' The seizure was part of a two-day crackdown on counterfeit and unsafe goods, which in total led to the seizure of: The dog patrol formed part of Tower Hamlets' £8 million Anti-Crime Task Force - a joint initiative with the police to combat crime and disorder. The programme was launched to bolster community safety with weapons sweeps, vehicle checks and drug disruption. Mr Chowdhury added: "We take a proactive approach to smoke out illegal trading in Tower Hamlets and regularly use sniffer dogs, so there's no place for such trading to hide."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Dog sniffs out illegal vapes and Viagra in Tower Hamlets
A sniffer dog is being hailed a "hero" after uncovering a stash of illicit cigarettes, vapes and unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets during an enforcement operation in east patrolling with trading standards officers on 11 June in Whitechapel, Skye, a specially trained four-year old springer spaniel, detected suspicious smells coming from a locked box attached to the back of a bike outside a Hamlets councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury said such products could be really dangerous and "had no place on our high streets"."I'd like to thank our trading standards team and Skye who played a hero's role in helping to keep our communities safe," he said. What looked like an ordinary bike box used for deliveries, turned out to contain illicit goods, Tower Hamlets Council to Skye's sense of smell, officers were able to seize:33 packets of illicit cigarettes7 packets of smokeless tobacco14 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco24 illegal vapes80 unlicensed erectile tablets The discovery was part of a two-day crackdown targeting the sale of counterfeit and unsafe products, which in total led to the seizure of:5,840 illicit cigarettes (292 packets)418 assorted illegal vapes2,055 packets of chewing tobacco80 unlicensed and potentially dangerous erectile dysfunction tablets The dog patrol service is part of Tower Hamlets' £8m Anti-Crime Task Force - a joint effort with the police to tackle crime and disorder. The initiative was launched to boost community safety and support police officers with weapons sweeps, drug disruption and vehicle Chowdhury added: "We take a proactive approach to smoke out illegal trading in Tower Hamlets and regularly use sniffer dogs, so there's no place for such trading to hide."
