MORE than 24,000 illegal cigarettes were uncovered in a major operation in Bradford and Calderdale to crack down on the supply in West Yorkshire.

Operation Kanni involved West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS), West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Council, British Gas Revenue Protection, plus specialist detection dogs.

Ten shops were visited where more than 24,000 illegal cigarettes and 12kg of hand rolling tobacco was seized.

The tobacco products were found hidden in various locations in the shops including inside a microwave, concealed in tubs and suitcases and even inside the housing of a domestic fridge.

The street value of the tobacco was almost £15,000.

A spokesperson for WYTS said: "The sale of illicit tobacco is often linked to other criminality and officers are finding that these businesses are also abstracting electricity.

"A multi-agency approach is used to try and uncover as much criminality as possible to try and discourage such trading. British Gas Revenue Protection also attended these premises and found issues with four shops in Bradford.

"Abstracting electricity is extremely dangerous and can cause risk of electrocution and a serious risk of sparking a fire or even causing an explosion. It can be a huge risk for neighbouring properties as well. Where abstractions were found, the electric was disconnected by revenue protection officers."

The inspections were part of The Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme, funded by the five Public Health authorities in West Yorkshire.

To date the programme has taken more than five million illegal cigarettes and over one tonne of illegal hand rolling tobacco off the streets.

It's thought these numbers are likely to increase in the coming weeks as even more inspections are planned.

The spokesperson added: "Illegal tobacco undermines the age and price restrictions placed on tobacco and also encourages people to continue smoking.

"It is also linked to organised crime and contributes to an underground economy worth billions of pounds. Victims of human trafficking are often being forced to sell these illegal products in order to pay off debts or fearing harm to themselves or their families."

Councillor Sue Duffy, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said: “Although a lot has been achieved, illegal tobacco is still a problem. While all smoking kills, illegal tobacco is a danger to health, particularly to young people, as it is sold at pocket money prices, making it easy for children to start. It also encourages other crimes in our communities.”

David Lodge, Head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, added: “The illegal sale of tobacco in communities enables and encourages young children to buy it cheaply. I would like to thank members of the public for reporting illegal sales and encourage everyone to continue doing so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities."

The Illegal Tobacco Hotline can be reached on 0300 999 0000.