Police have seized around £20,000 of cigarettes and vapes and made four arrests as part of an operation targeting illicit products.

The action has been carried out over the past two weeks by the Maidstone Town Centre Team who visited shops in Lower Stone Street, Gabriel’s Hill, and the High Street.

Information has been passed on to HMRC to investigate the non-payment of duty.

The four men arrested in connection with the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products have since been released on bail, pending further inquiries.

In total, officers seized 858 packets of cigarettes, more than six kilograms of rolling tobacco, 201 illegal vaping products and £2,560 in cash.

It follows a similar drive carried out in partnership with KCC trading standards in September last year that confiscated over 150,00 cigarettes as well as other tobacco items.

Officers ask that anyone who becomes aware of stores selling cigarettes illegally to contact them, and they would also like to hear from genuine shop-owners who believe their businesses have suffered because of illegal cigarette sales nearby.

You can report suspicions here or call 101.

Alternatively, use the Stop Illegal Tobacco Hotline: 0300 999 6 999.