SUSPECTED illegal tobacco and alcohol products were seized from premises in Lampeter during a raid last week.

It was part of an operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco and alcohol across south Waleswhich uncovered more than 49,000 cigarettes, 60 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco as well as 7.3 litres of illicit alcohol.

Around 15 officers from HM Revenue and Customs, with support from the Tobacco Detection Dog Team, visited 19 premises including self-storage units, retail shops and a pub on Wednesday and Thursday.

The visits, to locations in Bridgend, Neath, Swansea, Llanelli, Ammanford, Carmarthen and Lampeter, led to suspected illegal tobacco and alcohol products being seized from three premises – including one in the Lampeter area.

“In the run-up to Christmas, people may well be tempted to buy cheap tobacco and alcohol but the illicit alcohol and tobacco market costs the UK around £3.3 billion a year,” said Colin Spinks, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC.

“I would urge people with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or alcohol to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 595 000.”