POLICE seized �17,000 when they discovered 160,000 illegal cigarettes in Wisbech - and now they want to turn the ill-gotten gains against the criminals.
A confiscation hearing allowed the force to keep �9,000 of the cash, which will be used to install a new CCTV camera in the town.
Sergeant Dave Bax, licensing officer for Fenland, said: “I am pleased to say that some of this money will be turned to good by buying a CCTV camera at a vulnerable location.
“This may make the gangs’ activities even more difficult.”
Officers discovered the haul of 160,000 Russian cigarettes in the bedroom of a Wisbech house during some routine “door-knocking” in May.
Sgt Bax said police were continuing to monitor gangs which trade in non-duty paid cigarettes across the Fens.
He said: “If anyone has information about non-duty paid cigarettes or alcohol sales that rob this country of revenue and risk health, then I would be very pleased to hear from them. It will be taken extremely seriously.
“Some counterfeit items contain chemicals that can blind people, and with tobacco some products have been found to contain asbestos and factory floor sweepings.”
Police say the cigarettes they are particularly interested in are:
L+M with foreign writing on
Jin Ling - Yellow packs with foreign writing on.
Marlborough Gold with foreign writing on.
Golden Virginia with dutch writing on - these are made in china and smuggled in.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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