Counterfeit cigarettes, tobacco and disposable vapes were seized as part of an undercover operation in Newcastle.
Undercover test purchases were carried out at various stores in the city as part of an operation by the Illicit Trade Prevention Team, with around 50 purchases of illicit goods made by the team.
The operation was carried out on behalf of tobacco firm Philip Morris Limited (PML) which says concerns are growing among convenience retailers that the cost of living crisis will fuel a rise in the consumption of cheap, illicit cigarettes in the UK this year.
