A JOINT-operation between five authorities has seen one lorry seized after more than 26,000 cigarettes were found inside its cab.

HM Revenue and Customs were joined by the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU), the Border Agency, Harbour Police and the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency at Teesport today (May 17) for Operation Trivium.

The European-wide operation targets foreign national offenders and today’s find is believed to be worth around £8,000 in non-duty paid cigarettes.

A Polish driver and his vehicle, also originating from Poland, were stopped as part of the Revenue and Customs-led operation.

And a check of the cab revealed thousands of cigarettes that had not been duty paid.

Further checks found that the vehicle’s exhaust was only being secured to the lorry by cargo straps.

The Border Agency then seized the vehicle before it was prohibited by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency.