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The illegal tobacco was found when officers from Rugby Safer Neighbourhood Team and Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards, acting on intelligence, raided a business premises on the outskirts of Rugby. Sniffer dogs identified an illegal tobacco store where 13,846 packs of cigarettes and 2,166 packs of hand-rolling tobacco (50g) were discovered.
Trading standards officers believe that the illegal products were being split into smaller quantities for sale in shops across Warwickshire.
Sergeant Shaun Haywood, from Rugby Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Excellent partnership work with our colleagues at the council has resulted in significant disruption to this criminal enterprise and resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of illegal items being taken off the streets.”
Warwickshire county councillor Andy Crump, portfolio holder for community safety, said: “The seizure of over £100,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco will represent a significant blow to the criminals seeking to distribute and sell these products in Warwickshire.”
