More than a MILLION illegal cigarettes seized after van stopped on A19

Gavin Engelbrecht
·1-min read
Police seize more than a million illegal cigarettes when they stop this vehicle on the A19 <i>(Image: Cleveland Police)</i>
Police seize more than a million illegal cigarettes when they stop this vehicle on the A19 (Image: Cleveland Police)

Police seized more than a million illegal cigarettes when they stopped a heavily-laden van on the A19 in the North East yesterday (Friday, April 19).

Officers from Cleveland Police's Matrix team found the Renault van packed to the roof with more than a 100 boxes, each containing thousands of cigarettes.

A man was arrested and the illegal cigarettes seized after the stop on Teesside.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "On Friday 19th April, a van containing 1,230,000 illegal cigarettes was stopped on the A19 and a male was arrested.

"Matrix team officers stopped the Renault van which was travelling on the A19.

"123 boxes of cigarettes were located in the van, each containing 10,000 cigarettes. These have now been seized.

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The Northern Echo:
The Northern Echo:

"The male driver of the van was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and HMRC-related offences.

"Cleveland Police Matrix Team will continue to target illegal use of the roads."

The Northern Echo: Police seize more than a million illegal cigarettes when they stop this vehicle on the A19
The Northern Echo: Police seize more than a million illegal cigarettes when they stop this vehicle on the A19
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