Nearly 60,000 illegal cigarettes and in excess of 12kilos of loose tobacco worth nearly £13,000 has been seized in a joint operation in Gloucester.

Working on reports from the local community in Linden and Hempsted, investigation officers from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards worked alongside HM Revenue and Customs and the police to seize the haul.

After searching several houses they recovered 59,720 illegal cigarettes, 12.65kg of hand rolling tobacco as well as a vehicle that had been used to store the tobacco.

The vehicle was seized by HM Revenue and Customs.

Councillor Dave Norman, the cabinet member for trading standards said that the council was continuing its fight against illegal tobacco sales.

"We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco in Gloucestershire which poses a significant risk to public health as well as undercutting legitimate law abiding traders and taking money from the public purse which funds the vital services we all rely on."

Jon McGinty, commissioning director responsible for Trading Standards at Gloucestershire County Council, added: "This is another successful operation against those who choose to trade in illegal tobacco.

"I'm really grateful to the local community for their valuable information which helped us to achieve this great result."

Tracey Noon, assistant director for fraud investigation services at HMRC said that the illegal tobacco market cost the UK finances around £2.5billion per year.

"Trade in illegal tobacco undermines legitimate traders and starves the UK of money which should be used to fund our vital public services," she said.

"We will continue to work closely with partner agencies such as Trading Standards to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year."

Enquiries will now continue and if anyone has any further information please report it to Trading Standards on 03454 040506, email tradingstandards@gloucestershire.gov.uk or get in touch anonymously via their website at http://glos.tradingstandards.uk/report.html  quoting 'Operation Crab'.