Customs and Excise officers have linked up with the Benefits Agency for a blitz on dealers in smuggled tobacco and alcohol.

Six teams visited 90 premises in Keighley, Bradford and Leeds in the intelligence-led operation.

Goods were seized at 20 of the addresses, which included private houses, shops, pubs and clubs.

The Benefits Agency also reported good results which may lead to future prosecutions.

Customs officers seized 57,000 cigarettes, 60 kilos of hand rolling tobacco, 764 litres of wines and spirits and 1,200 litres of beer during the raids.

The tax on the goods is approximately £15,000. No arrests were made.

Customs spokesman Rob Hastings-Trew says: "We want to use these continuing operations to demonstrate that we will act on information received from the general public.

"We will not tolerate these parasites preying on the community and putting honest shop keepers out of business."

Council accused of turning town into

a dump see Page 26

Village news

see Pages 26 & 27

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