NEW figures have been released showing another fall in the illegal tobacco market in the North-East.

And the illegal tobacco trade in Middlesbrough has been dealt a major blow following the seizure of a huge haul of cigarettes and tobacco.

The swoop on a house in the town led to the recovery of more than 42,000 cigarettes and more than 2.25kg of hand rolling tobacco.

The haul, with a high street value of more than £15,000, was discovered in a house in Grove Hill during a raid by Middlesbrough Council’s Trading Standards officers accompanied by officers from HM Revenue & Customs and the police.

The crackdown was in response to evidence that tobacco was being sold from the house, including sales to children.

Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for public health and sport, said: “Sales from houses remain a blight on the town. Those engaged in this trade seem to believe that they can continue to sell their illegal goods, often to children, out of reach of the authorities.”

According to HM Revenue and Customs, in 2010/11 an estimated nine per cent of cigarettes consumed in the UK were illegal compared to 11 per cent in 2009/10. The figures for hand rolled tobacco were 38 per cent in 2010/11 compared to 42 per cent in 2009/10.

Edward Kunonga, Middlesbrough’s director of public health, said: “The low prices charged for these illegal and counterfeit products encourage increased consumption and the unregulated supply means that tobacco houses are one of the commonest sources of cigarettes for under-age smokers.”

Anyone with information about illegal tobacco sellers can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.keep-it-out.co.uk