Illegal vapes, tobacco products and cigarettes worth £35,000 were recovered from a Romford business.

In a joint operation called CeCe, Havering Council’s trading standards team and Met Police officers raided a business in the town centre on Thursday (March 9) to seize the counterfeit products after weeks of investigation.

Council-funded sniffer dogs, who are specifically trained to detect tobacco, were also used to track the products that were sealed magnetically in boxes.

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Councillor Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said: “This is excellent work from our trading standards team working with police and means these illegal and harmful products have been taken off the streets in our borough.

“Our aim is to keep our residents safe and that is why it is important for us to crack down on those looking to sell these illegal products like this and take the strongest possible action.”

Acting Supt Lisa Butterfield said: “Illicit tobacco can not only cause serious harm to people’s health, but the proceeds are often used in organised crime and fund more serious offences.”

The council said further enquiries are ongoing in relation to the products seized.