West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Team has seized more than 6,000 illicit cigarettes from four shops in Worthing and Littlehampton.
The team also seized 8.4kg of rolling tobacco and 64 pouches of shisha tobacco, with a total estimated street value of £8,500.
The local operation was carried out as part of a national initiative between National Trading Standards and HMRC to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.
Assisting the operation were tobacco detection dogs from BWY Canine Ltd who discovered the products on the premises or in vehicles associated with the location.
Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said:
"The partnership working between our Trading Standards colleagues and BWY Canine Ltd shows just how prevalent illicit cigarettes and tobacco are in West Sussex.
“Our colleagues in Public Health also see the fall out illicit smoking products have on people of all ages in the county, as the availability and typically lower price of illicit tobacco means it is easier to continue, relapse or even start smoking.
“If anyone in West Sussex wants to quit as part of Stoptober, but doesn’t know where to start, there is free help and support available on the West Sussex Wellbeing website."
Members of the public in West Sussex who have information about the sale of illegal cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products in West Sussex can report it directly to Trading Standards via.
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