Illegal vapes and tobacco 'off the streets' after police raid

Kettering's Neighbourhood Police Team and Trading Standards joined forces and seized over £80,000 worth of illicit goods.

Police seized more than £80,000 worth of illicit goods from three different stores in a Northamptonshire town.

The items included 418 illegal vapes worth £4,180, 82 packets of tobacco worth £2,755 - and 5,119 packets of cigarettes, worth £74,737.

A neighbourhood police team and and officers from Trading Standards simultaneously visited the stores in Kettering on 8 November.

The operation came after concerns were raised in an anonymous tip-off.

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During one inspection, police found a hidden cavity behind a cupboard near the back of a store where a large amount of illegal tobacco and cigarettes were found.

Kettering's Neighbourhood Police Team and Trading Standards simultaneously visited the stores in Kettering.

PC James Batten, from Kettering's Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "I am really pleased with the results of this operation because it means that a large quantity of harmful goods are now off the streets of Northamptonshire and away from members of the public.

"Illicit tobacco is not only bad for your health, but it can also be a sign of something more sinister, such as serious and organised crime.

"We will continue working alongside our partners at Trading Standards to conduct these inspections and I hope this case is a warning to other stores selling similar items."