Fake cig-selling shop stripped of alcohol licence but can still sell tobacco

way of hiding illegal tobacco.”

The first raid at International Express on December 19 last year returned 316 packets of cigs and 145 pouches of rolling tobacco – between them worth more than £4,400.

The day after, police returned and found 37 packs of cigs and 12 pouches of tobacco, worth over £600.

The police bust also found 112 bottles of Smirnoff vodka that could not be proven to be legitimate.

Police licensing officers have told the Examiner that some of the cigs were counterfeit and others were Eastern European that had been smuggled into the country.

They are being sold for just £3.50 for 20 compared to more than £10 for legitimate UK duty paid cigarettes.

Mr Woodhead told the Examiner the illegal cigarettes had been analysed by Trading Standards, with shocking results.

Along with the poison arsenic, which is found in all cigarettes, scientists discovered deadly asbestos, dust from vacuum cleaners, mouse droppings, dead flies and “other nasty stuff.”

Reports done elsewhere have discovered the counterfeit cigarettes contain human excrement.

Chair of the council’s licensing panel, Clr Carole Pattison, said they had taken action after a number of breaches by International Express.

She said: “There seems to be a ring of shops involved in this and the police have taken action against them.

”We agreed with the police that we wanted to send a strong message to people dealing in illegal drink and cigarettes, that we won’t tolerate it.

“We want the town to be safe, and also healthy, as we have heard that the cigarettes contained arsenic, asbestos, rat poison, dust and fluff.”