MORE than 10,000 cigarettes and 1,500 litres of high strength lager have been seized.

Hampshire police, customs and council officers took the goods in an operation to combat the illegal sale of tobacco and alcohol.

The raids on shops in Southampton also led to the arrest of a 35-year-old woman on suspicion of the evasion of excise duty.

About 20 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with support from Southampton City Council Trading Standards and Licensing Team, tobacco dogs and their handler, and Hampshire Police Licensing Team, visited four shops in Shirley and three premises in St Mary’s.

The visits led to suspected illegal tobacco being seized from four premises and boxes of cigarettes dumped in the street as the operation took place.

Items seized included: l 10,640 cigarettes, with an estimated £3,500 duty and VAT evaded l 1,512 litres of high strength lager, with an estimated £3,800 duty and VAT evaded During the operation officers uncovered tobacco hidden in a fridge, in a shop assistant’s clothing and inside purpose-built “under-the-counter” hiding places.

Colin Spinks, assistant director, of the HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, 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 around £2.4 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.”

Councillor Dave Shields, Southampton City Council’s cabinet member for health and sustainable living, said: “Far from being a victimless crime, the trade in illegal tobacco makes it easier for children and young people to take up smoking and makes it more difficult for those trying to give up. Evading duty and VAT on the sale of high strength lager results in low prices which can encourage vulnerable people to drink to excess. Protecting the health of citizens is a council priority and we will continue to work with partners to ensure Southampton businesses comply with the law.”

Investigations continue.

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or alcohol is urged to call contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.