A man tried to escape from a first-floor window after police swooped on a property.

More than 1,500 boxes of illicit cigarettes and £4,000 in cash were seized during the search of the building in Ashford.

The raid came about after concerned residents approached beat officers on Tuesday, March 18 during a community engagement event in the town centre.

The officers were given information about a premises which was being used in suspicious circumstances – the front door was routinely left open, unknown persons accessed the building, as well as people climbing the rear gate late in the evening.

Responding to the concerns of the community, officers headed to the area and identified the property, making enquiries at scene.

These initial enquiries led to one person being located within and being arrested for possession of criminal property.

A second man fled the property via a first-floor window but was swiftly detained by officers before also being arrested for the same offences.

Officers then began searches, which resulted in approximately £4,000 in cash being recovered and a large quantity of illicit tobacco products.

In total, there was over 1,500 boxes of cigarettes seized.

One man has since been released under investigation and another was released without charge.

Enquiries remain ongoing with an investigation launched by Kent Police.

The arrests coincide with ongoing operations in collaboration with Trading Standards around Ashford town centre, which have resulted in further illicit tobacco products being seized from shops.