A HUGE government operation across Southampton has uncovered illegal cigarettes worth thousands and vehicles linked to criminal gangs.

Specialist officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), in collaboration with Hampshire Constabulary and Bedfordshire Police, visited four shops in Southampton along St Mary’s Street, Shirley Road and Onslow Road, as well as four shops in Bedford.

Items seized during the visit included around 50,000 cigarettes worth £20,000 in excess of unpaid duty tax and VAT, and three vehicles linked to an organised crime group.

The operation was undertaken with the support of a number of partner agencies, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Trading Standards and Immigration Enforcement, on Thursday November 28.

Alan Penrith, Regional Coordinator of the Government Agency Intelligence Network, said: “This operation was the result of months of hard work and intelligence sharing between SEROCU, Hampshire Constabulary, Bedfordshire Police and our partners in order to tackle the source of funds for organised crime groups.

“The sale of illicit tobacco and counterfeit cigarettes is illegal. It denies income to legitimate businesses and should not be tolerated in our communities.

“I would urge anyone who thinks they may have information on the sale of illegal or counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco, regardless of the location, to contact police by calling 101.”

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Place and Transport at Southampton City Council, said: “I’m very pleased to see how effectively our partnership enforcement action has worked, sending a strong message to those who try to sell illegal tobacco.

“With illegal tobacco, you can’t tell what’s in it, which makes it incredibly dangerous.

“Illegal tobacco is also known to fund criminal networks which links in with organised crime.”

SEROCU said they were unable to confirm which city shops had been targeted during the operation.

It comes after more than 20,000 cigarettes and almost nine kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco were seized in a raid across the city in November 2018, which were all believed to be illicit.

Last year also saw Euro Food Store, on Bridge Road, Woolston, have its licence to sell alcohol and tobacco pulled for selling illegal cigarettes.

They were caught selling illegal cigarettes on multiple occasions.

New Rywal, on St Mary’s Road, received the largest ever local fine for also selling illegal tobacco in early 2018.