Two detection dogs helped sniff out 9,000 cigarettes and illegal tobacco worth £6,500.

Dipper and Sky visited businesses across Haringey to uncover illegal tobacco products being sold to the community.

Together with Trading Standards, Haringey Council seized more than 9,000 illegal cigarettes as well as 2.5kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco from three businesses in the borough as a result of their work.

One shop worker was caught off guard as officers and one dog walked into an off-licence in Bounds Green.

As the officers walked in, the worker looked at the dog and headed outside clutching a waistcoat which was found to contain 640 illegal cigarettes on which duty had not been paid, as well as a packet of tablets only licensed for sale in the UK in registered pharmacies.

In a second shop in Lordship Lane one dog discovered a locked metal cabinet in the garden of an neighbouring premises.

Ham & High: Some of the haul of illegal cigarettes Dipper and Sky, detective dogs, sniffed outSome of the haul of illegal cigarettes Dipper and Sky, detective dogs, sniffed out (Image: Haringey Council)

When officers found the keys to it in the shop and opened it, they found 6,800 illegal cigarettes and more than 2kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco.

During further investigations in Green Lanes, another 1,600 cigarettes as well as 500g of hand rolling tobacco - none of which had duty paid on it – was found in one shop.

When officers told shop workers who they were, they were directed to speak with the alleged manager.

But it was an attempt to pass carrier bags over the counter to a man on the customer side.

The council said officers were quick to react and seized the products.

Cllr Adam Jogee, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: “Thanks to our trading standard officers and our two amazing detection dogs, Dipper and Sky, we have prevented the sale of illegal tobacco being sold to our residents."

An investigation will be carried out into each business.