A TRADING Standards operation across Heckmondwike assisted by West Yorkshire Police officers from Batley and Spen NPT unearthed £40,000 of cigarettes and tobacco which were believed to be counterfeit.
The investigation took place on March 8 at various locations and a number of other items were located including a stun gun and a can of CS gas.
It total there were 36,000 cigarettes and 36 kg of rolling tobacco.
Two vehicles, a white Jaguar and a Vauxhall Mokka, were seized and recovered by HMRC.
David Lodge, Head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said: “All tobacco is harmful, but the supply of illegal cigarettes seriously undermines the drive to reduce smoking, fuels organised criminality and is often a gateway for young people to becoming addicted to a habit which prematurely kills over half its users.”
Inquiries by Trading Standards and HMRC are currently ongoing.
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