Millions of suspected fake cigarettes seized

Police found a haul of about £3.5m worth of suspected illegal cigarettes

Police have seized around seven million suspected counterfeit cigarettes worth an estimated value of £3.5m in a series of raids in Preston.

Lancashire Police said officers on a routine patrol stopped and searched a man sat parked in an Audi car on Maitland Street at about 12:30 BST on 7 September, and found boxes of the cigarettes in the car.

The officers then searched two properties on the same street, as well as another on Thorn Street, uncovering a total of seven million suspected illegal cigarettes.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering after the raid and has since been released on conditional bail.

Sgt David Hargreaves of Lancashire Police said: "We work hard to prevent criminal activity on the streets of Preston in order to keep our communities safe.

"This was a significant find of suspected counterfeit cigarettes following a stop and search during a routine patrol."