Kent police secures largest single seizure of illicit cigarettes in secret tunnel

A total of 242,500 cigarettes and 1,516 pouches of tobacco, with a street value of around £76,000, have been seized recently in Gravesend, Kent.

According to local reports, eight shops were visited across April 3 and April 4, during which police team found the largest ever single seizure with the help of a detection dog.

During the operation, one of the dogs indicated there was tobacco behind some tiling in a basement. After removing the false panel, officers had found a tunnel that had been dug through to the basement of the adjoining shop. Inside the tunnel officers found more than 148,000 cigarettes and 1,315 pouches of tobacco, the largest single seizure the team has secured.

In another store, officers found a chute behind a counter and followed it up to a second floor flat above the shop. They forced entry after another working cocker spaniel alerted them that there was tobacco inside. This time, 58,900 illicit cigarettes and 135 pouches of tobacco were found hidden behind magnetic concealments inside three false walls in the flat, reports stated.

During the mission, illegal vapes were also seized and fines were issued for immigration offences.

Inspector James Beautridge of North Kent’s Community Safety Unit said that the operation in Kent shows how ‘prevalent the issue is and the lengths to which some shop owners will go in order to hide these products’,

"The sale of illicit cigarettes and tobacco poses a serious health risk to consumers and also hinders law abiding businesses," reports quoted Inspector Beautridge as saying.

"Regulations are in place to ensure that the tobacco products consumed on a daily basis are as safe as possible and do not contain unregulated ingredients.

"Kent Police is determined to work with our partner agencies to stamp out the illegal sale of unregulated tobacco and hold offenders to account for their behaviour which is why operations such as this one are so important."

Over the course of the two days officers worked closely with staff from Gravesham Council, Kent Trading Standards, HMRC and the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team to carry out the proactive operation.