COUNTERFEIT cigarettes and illegal tobacco have been seized in a major operation by Swindon Council and Wiltshire police.
Around 340 cigarettes and 400g of tobacco were found during the raids on four stores in Manchester Road this morning.
The operation, codenamed Levi after one of the sniffer dogs taking part, saw trading standards and police search stores across town after intelligence suggested some were involved in the sale of fake or non-duty tobacco.
It was the first time sniffer dogs, provided by private firm Wagtail UK, have been used in a trading standards operation in the town.
Phil Thomas, head of public protection for the council, said: "The problem is everywhere, it is nationwide - 10 per cent of all tobacco products are illict."
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