POLICE in Darlington have seized illegal and counterfeit tobacco in a raid.

The illicit tobacco was seized from a shop in Darlington town centre today (Thursday, January 31) in a joint raid by Darlington Borough Council’s trading standards team, Darlington police and customs officers.

The operation was carried out after information was received on the sale of counterfeit tobacco by retailers in the town centre.

Chris McEwan, the council’s cabinet member leading on trading standards, said: “The teams carried out the raid after being given information about the sale of counterfeit and illicit goods.

“Such goods can be dangerous – you just simply do not know what you are getting. Hopefully, the raid will serve as a warning to other people to not sell such goods – you will be caught and stopped.”

The premises where the items were seized is now subject to a trading standards investigation.

Anyone with information on counterfeit or illicit goods should contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.