More than 160,000 illicit cigarettes seized

The multi-agency operation saw illicit tobacco products with a street value of £42,000 seized, police said

Thousands of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco products have been seized during raids on properties in Doncaster, police said.

The operation, led by the City of Doncaster Council's trading standards team, saw 160,000 cigarettes, 52kg of hand-rolling tobacco and more than 1,000 counterfeit vapes confiscated.

South Yorkshire Police said the items had a total street value of £42,000. Eight properties were searched on Friday, leading to five arrests.

Ch Insp Joe Hunt said: "This type of criminality is often linked to organised crime groups responsible for bringing fear, violence and harm to our local communities."

The initiative aimed to disrupt the illicit tobacco market in the city and arrest those responsible for the sale and distribution of unsafe products, a force spokesperson said.

Police raided premises and properties in Doncaster on Friday

Glyn Jones, the council's deputy mayor and cabinet member for environment, housing and safer communities, said counterfeit tobacco products posed "a serious health risk to the public".

"That is why we have zero tolerance for their sale or distribution in any way in our city and will always take proactive steps to disrupt these illegal activities," he said.

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