More than 9,000 illegal cigarettes seized

More than 9,000 cigarettes were seized in the raids

More than 9,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized as part of a national initiative to tackle their sale.

Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards carried out raids at off-licences, convenience stores, food retailers and barbers in Banbury, Kidlington and Oxford.

Specialist tobacco detection dogs - which were used to sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms - assisted the operation.

Alongside the cigarettes, teams also seized counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco, nicotine pouches and vapes.

The raids, carried out last month, were part of Operation CeCe - a national initiative to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.

Specialist tobacco detection dogs were used during the raids

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council's public health chief, said its officers would "continue to crack down" on the sale of illegal products and "cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks".

"People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer county by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline," he added.

In total, tobacco products with a street value of more than £5,000 were seized during the operation.

That included 9,340 illegal cigarettes, 700g of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco, 180 packs of non-compliant nicotine pouches and 42 disposable vapes, with a capacity of nicotine containing liquid nine times the maximum allowed.

Jody Kerman, the council's head of Trading Standards, said: "We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco."

"Its sale undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals," she added.