West Yorkshire Police raids at shops in Dewsbury and Batley uncover more than £17,000 of stashed illegal cigarettes

In joint operations the teams recovered 281 packets of 20 carton cigarettes from one shop, and 62 packets of tobacco and 91 oversized vapes.

A total of 248 cartons of cigarettes and 27 fifty gramme pouches of hand rolling tobacco were seized from another premises, while 250 packets of cigarettes were also found in a car.

Small amounts of Class B drugs were also found in the operation.

Officers from the Dewsbury and Mirfield Neighbourhood Policing Team and colleagues from West Yorkshire Trading Standards are continuing to investigate after raiding the shops this week.

Sergeant Charlie Coe, of the Dewsbury and Mirfield NPT, said: “We are continuing our enquiries with partners at West Yorkshire Trading Standards following these substantial seizures of contraband cigarettes and vapes from stores in Dewsbury and Batley.

“It is proven that money raised from illegal tobacco sales can be used to fund organised crime and these illegal products can also be more harmful to public health due to lack of regulation and testing.

“For these reasons it is really important we act to restrict the sale of such products to protect public health and take revenue streams away from those who create misery in our communities.”

He added: “None of us want to see organised crime in our neighbourhoods and I encourage residents to keep contacting us with any information which can help us disrupt criminal activity and the sale of illegal goods.”