Tobacco and machines are seized in customs raid

CUSTOMS officers raided a ‘rural farm building’ near Leighton Buzzard on Thursday in a crackdown on a counterfeit tobacco operation.

It is believed the manufacturing and distribution activities of gang behind the operation would have resulted in a loss to the public purse of £6 million.

A spokeswoman for HM Revenue & Customs could not reveal where the raid had taken place, but said 750kg of tobacco and two cutting and drying machines were seized.

Officers also seized 100 cannabis plants.

Raids also took place in Milton Keynes and Staffordshire, and a total of nine people, three of whom are believed to be illegal immigrants, were arrested.