A haul of 65,000 illegal cigarettes has been found dumped in a lane in South Cheshire.
Cheshire East Council’s trading standards team wants the public to help track down those who dumped the haul in a field off Clay Lane, Crewe.
The cigarettes (pictured) – estimated to have a street value of £24,000 – are known as ‘cheap whites’.
They are foreign imports brought into the UK, which are illegal due to the non-payment of duty.
Cllr Paul Bates, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for health and communities, said: “We are an enforcing council and work hard to keep harmful products off the streets.
“We are asking the local community to give us any information that could help to track down the criminals connected to this incident.
“There is far more to this than the non-payment of duty.
“The sale of illicit tobacco often has links to serious and organised crime and we also know that people who deal in illegal tobacco are more likely to encourage others, especially children and young adults to smoke.”
Offenders can face unlimited fines and up to 10 years in prison.
You can report any information anonymously to the government’s keep it out website or by calling 0300 999 0000.
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