MORE than 30,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized from a property in Evesham

The seizure was a joint operation with trading standards staff from Sandwell Council, in the West Midlands, into the distribution, possession and sale of illegal tobacco.

Co-ordinated raids took place in the Sandwell and Evesham area where over 500,000 individual illegal cigarettes were seized from six premises.

One property in Evesham was targeted, where 31,650 illegal cigarettes were seized, with a street value of around £5,200.

The premise was raided by officers from Worcestershire Trading Standards, working alongside police officers based at Evesham.

Investigations and enquiries are continuing.

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for communities. said: “Our Trading Standards professionals take the sale of illegal cigarettes very seriously. We have strategic partnerships with other enforcement bodies and work together to combat this crime.

"Illegal cigarettes are sold at pocket money prices and we need to protect youngsters from the scourge of smoking. We also need to protect the public purse and illegal cigarettes avoid the tax revenue that should be pumped back into our schools and hospitals.

"Shop keepers found to be storing, distributing or selling illegal tobacco could face losing their alcohol licence as a consequence, as well as being prosecuted."

Anyone with information on illegal tobacco sales can contact the police on 101 or confidential reports can be made at worcestershirets.gov.uk/report-it.aspx or on 03454 040506.