Illegal tobacco and illegal vapes were seized during raids on premises across Lowestoft.

Suffolk Trading Standards officials were joined by sniffer dogs and Lowestoft police officers as checks were carried out at three stores across the town.

With the specially trained tobacco dogs from Wagtail UK Limited joining the raids at three premises in Lowestoft, Suffolk Trading Standards said illegal tobacco and illegal vapes were seized from two of the stores.

A Suffolk Trading Standards spokesman said: "Sniffer dogs Louis and Skye uncovered hundreds of packets of illegal cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and vapes which had been carefully concealed.

"In total 8180 cigarettes (409 packets), 6.25 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco and 82 vapes were seized by Trading Standards."

The raids were carried out as part of a special operation - entitled Operation CeCe - which is a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that is part of a wider government strategy to disrupt every aspect of the illegal tobacco market.

The spokesman added: "The vapes seized at both stores did not meet the legal requirements and all the tobacco products are suspected to be illegally imported into the UK, without duty being paid and do not comply with the legal packaging and labelling requirements.

"Several of the tobacco products are also suspected to be counterfeits of popular brands.

"The seized products will now be fully assessed as part of the investigations to determine the exact offences that have been committed, and the action that will be taken."

The raids were a fortnight ago.

If you have any information on the sale of illegal tobacco, you can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.