'Dangerous and untested' sex pills and laughing gas 'enough for 5,000 balloons' found in raid at city shop

Banned hippy crack canisters, illegal vapes and unregulated sex pills worth thousands of pounds were found in a raid at a Birmingham convenience store. It followed an intelligence-led operation by Trading Standards officers from Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police last night, Tuesday, November 26.

More than 70 large nitrous oxide canisters were found stored in an outbuilding behind the shop and in the back of an untaxed car. The laughing gas haul could be enough to fill more than 5,500 balloons and is now a Class C drug banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

BirminghamLive joined the raid in the city as officers found scores of illegal vapes openly being sold behind the till. A teenage boy found to be working at the store - which cannot be named for legal reasons - was arrested for not providing his details.

READ MORE: Raided Birmingham shop found with scores of illegal vapes '30 times legal limit'

Cannabis bags and suspected Class A drugs - white pills branded 'X' - were also seized by police. And around 60 unregulated 100mg blue sex pills - branded "dangerous and untested" by officers on the raid - were found allegedly under the counter.

An alleged unlicensed HMO - house in multiple occupation - was found to be in "unsafe conditions" in accommodation above the shop where three people were suspected to be living. A second city shop, located on the same street, was also targeted and illegal vapes and tobacco were found there.

The operation was part of a probe under Operation Cloud, which was deemed a big success by Mohammed Tariq, a senior trading standards officer for Birmingham City Council. He told BirminghamLive: "You can see the sort of stuff we've seized. It's shocking. A male has been arrested as he's refusing to give his details.

"Drugs have been found, unsafe sex pills, illicit tobacco, nitrous oxide canisters, vapes. We're looking at thousands of pounds - all taken off the street. The sex pills are absolutely dangerous. They haven't been tested."

He added: "People were (found to be) living upstairs (accommodation above shop) in unsafe conditions. There's no licensing registered with the city council.

"We will access what we've got and have a look at the local impact it's had. We will carry our ongoing investigation and put the case towards the head of services who will make the decision to prosecute or go for closure orders."

Mr Tariq added: "It's been a good, fruitful result. This is just the start of Operation Cloud. We're doing something for the community and trying to bring traders in compliance." Items seized will be tested before later being destroyed. Further Birmingham businesses will also be targeted as part of the ongoing operation, which aims to disrupt criminality.