TWO men have been arrested after more than 200,000 cigarettes and 28 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, all believed to be illicit, were seized.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) arrested two men after suspected illegal tobacco, worth an estimated £80,000 in unpaid duty, was found at a self-storage site.

213,940 cigarettes and 28 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco were discovered at the storage facility on September 14.

A further 2,464 cigarettes and one kilo of hand-rolling tobacco were seized at a shop in Middlesbrough.

The men, aged 36 and 30, from Stockton and Middlesbrough, were arrested in connection with the seizures and interviewed by HMRC.

Both men were released pending further investigation.

Denis Kerr, assistant director of the Fraud Investigation Service HMRC, said: “Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clamp down on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £2.4bn a year.

“This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.

“We encourage anyone with information the sale of illegal tobacco to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”