£1,550 in cash, a vehicle and more than 15,000 cigarettes have been seized in Worthing as part of an investigation into illicit tobacco.
Sussex Police broke into a vehicle on Friday 8 July 2016 following public reports of suspicious activity nearby.
The vehicle was seized along with 15,000 cigarettes and 550 tobacco pouches found inside.
West Sussex Trading Standards visited a shop in Worthing the vehicle was registered to and seized 200 cigarettes, 70 pouches of tobacco and £1,550 in cash.
David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “Once again this shows the excellent job our Trading Standards team do in monitoring the actions of these lawbreakers.
“The illegal tobacco trade is not safe for consumers and also harms legitimate businesses. We will make sure these criminals face the consequences of their actions.”
Richard Sargeant, Trading Standards Team Manager, said: “Illegal, counterfeit tobacco can be extremely dangerous as it does not self-extinguish, which can lead to house fires.
“These cigarettes and tobacco pouches were foreign labelled and we suspect they are counterfeit, which are both offences under the Consumer Protection Act and the Trade Marks Act.”
Anyone with information about illicit tobacco can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or can report details online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport.