More than 18,000 counterfeit cigarettes seized

The total street value of the haul was estimated to be about £10,000

More than 18,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes have been seized by a trading standards team.

Oxfordshire County Council also confiscated 2.4st (15kg) of hand-rolling and waterpipe tobacco during a series of visits to retail premises.

The raids, carried out last month, were part of a national initiative funded by HMRC to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.

Other products confiscated included 120 nicotine pouches and 263 single-use vapes.

The total street value of the haul was estimated to be about £10,000, the team said.

Jody Kerman, the head of the council's trading standards team, said: "Make no mistake about it, organised criminals are using illegal tobacco as a commodity to raise cash, which funds serious crime.

"We would urge the public to stop funding them."

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, community safety chief, said the trading standards team would continue to "cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks".

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

The operation was carried out by officers alongside specialist tobacco detection dogs.

As well as the items seized, one premises was also found to have a "sophisticated concealment" which was built to try to evade sniffer dogs.