Police seize £15k worth of cigarettes and alcohol in Wolverhampton

Officers swooped on a van and convenience store in Whitmore Reans yesterday afternoon.

They found more than 3,500 packets of cigarettes and approaching 100 bottles of spirits. The haul is thought to contain a mixture of fake and non-duty paid items.

Sergeant Kevin Whitehouse, of St Peter's and Park Neighbourhood Police Team, said: "This is a significant haul and a lot more than your usual couple of boxes stashed under a counter.

"This type of raid will get the message across that we will not tolerate the sale of fake or non-duty paid items in this city."

The swoop is the latest in a year-long police crackdown on the sale of contraband alcohol and tobacco across the city.