Over a million illegal cigarettes seized in raids

Illegal cigarettes worth over £1m have been seized in a crackdown on organised crime, West Yorkshire Police has said.

A total of nine properties were raided across the county, including four residential properties in Fartown, Huddersfield, on 2 February, with about 1.3 million illegal cigarettes and thousands of pounds in cash found, according to a force spokesperson.

The raids were conducted jointly by West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Trading Standards, and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Insp Amanda Holroyd said it was a "a significant operation which has resulted in the capture of very large amounts of illegal goods".

Holroyd said such products were "typically unregulated and untested" and contained "dangerous levels of nicotine and other harmful substances".

The raids are part of an initiative called the Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme, which police said would help investigate traders who supplied cheap and illicit tobacco.

Linda Davis, head of Trading Standards (Protecting Communities), said that it was not a victimless crime and the organisation encouraged the public to come forward with any information on illegal sales.

"The illegal trade in tobacco costs the government billions each year in lost revenue, makes it easier for children to start smoking, takes advantage of cash-strapped families and helps fund organised crime," she added.

West Yorkshire Police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

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