An operation to disrupt the supply and sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol in South and West Wales led to the seizure of hand rolling tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol, all believed to be illicit.

Around 28 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with support from Trading Standards, Home Office, local police forces and Wagtails tobacco dogs, visited 62 retail premises and self-storage units in the area on November 22 and 23.

Several towns in Pembrokeshire were among those visited, including Tenby, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, as well as St. Clears, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli and Aberystwyth.

The visits, as part of HMRC’s Tobacco Taskforce activity, led to suspected illegal tobacco and alcohol products being seized from eight premises. This included 2,260 cigarettes, 112.70 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, and 510.55 litres of alcohol.

The total duty and VAT evaded is approximately £30,000.