Lowestoft police seize £67k worth of illicit tobacco products

A total of 90,000 cigarettes and 45kg of tobacco were seized

Suffolk Police has seized £67,000 worth of illicit tobacco and cigarettes, following a joint investigation with HM Revenue & Customs.

The goods were recovered from a storage unit and a vehicle in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on 6 February.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident but was released on bail.

PCSO Michael Soames said: "There is a massive human cost behind the trade in illegal tobacco products."

He added that "health issues or the supporting of human trafficking and modern day slavery" often go "hand in hand" with such offences.

In total, 90,000 cigarettes and 45kg of tobacco were seized.

Tobacco products were also found in a hiding place under the floorboards of a shop in Triangle Market.

Sgt Richard Bemment said: "This was a very productive operation as illicit tobacco contributes to harm within the local community and often goes hand in hand with anti-social behaviour and more serious criminality wider afield or on a national scale.

"I'd like to pass on my thanks to all the other agencies involved - a great bit of partnership working and also thank to the owners of the local storage unit who were extremely helpful with this operation."