Three men were arrested yesterday (21.01) and their homes were searched as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal supply of cigarettes and tobacco in Cornwall.

Joint teams from Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards and Devon and Cornwall Police executed search warrants and arrests at addresses near Land’s End and in St Austell with support from HM Revenue and Customs.

Hundreds of pouches of rolling tobacco and large quantities of cash were recovered and those arrested were taken to police stations at Newquay and Camborne to be interviewed.

Elizabeth Kirk, senior trading standards officer with Cornwall Council said the sale of cheap, illegal tobacco had "proven links to wider criminal activity" and caused financial detriment to legitimate traders.

She said: "Cheap tobacco sold with no age verification checks in place gives our children cheap, easy access to tobacco products and undermines the quit attempts of existing smokers. Cornwall Trading Standards regularly works in partnership with police and customs and excise in order to combat sales across the region.

"I would encourage anyone who has any information about the sale of illegal tobacco to report it to the Smokefree South West illegal tobacco hotline 0300 9990000 or online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk"

Further enquiries will now be made. Anyone charged with offences in relation to the illegal supply of tobacco products may be subject to three months in prison and/or a substantial fine.