MORE than 8000 illegal cigarettes, 5.7 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 500 litres of alcohol have been seized in Southampton during a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) led operation.

Over a 100 officers from the HMRC, Hampshire police, Southampton City Council trading standards, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force officers were involved in raids across the city.

Two specialist Border Force tobacco dogs were also deployed in the operations targeting 19 shops, mainly premises in the Shirley and St Mary's districts.

The visits, as part of HMRC's Tobacco Taskforce activity, led to tobacco and alcohol products being seized from 12 stores.

The haul included: · 8,155 cigarettes · 5.7 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco · 0.45 kilos of shisha tobacco · 202 litres of wine · 121 litres of beer · 178 litres of spirits It is estimated about £8,500 of duty and VAT may have been evaded.

In one shop officers found a baggy overcoat with individual packets of cigarettes and tobacco hidden inside the lining, sleeves and pockets.

In another tobacco was concealed under papers in a newspaper stand and tobacco goods were also found concealed within a display stand at the same outlet.

HMRC officers will also investigate associated tax offences.

Police and trading standards will be following-up four licensing enquiries.

Immigration enforcement officers carried out checks to ensure that staff were legally present in the UK and had the right to work.

John Cooper, HMRC assistant director of criminal Investigation, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies.

“Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK about £2 billion a year, and the sale of illicit alcohol which costs the UK around £1 billion per year. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.”

PC Andy Sparshott, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Hampshire Constabulary provided officers from local community policing teams in support of the HMRC operation in order to reassure the public that may have been concerned by the increased activity in their community.”

Trading Standards team leader Clive Robinsonsaid: “Working with partners to protect both consumers and legitimate businesses is good news for Southampton's residents and taxpayers.

“Our Trading Standards Officers are making further enquiries and we will be examining what additional actions, including licence reviews where appropriate, can be taken.”

Anyone with information regarding tobacco fraud is encouraged to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000 or via the website www.hmrc.gov.uk/reportingfraud/online.htm