TWO people were arrested and both money and tobacco seized in a raid.

A woman in her late 50s and a man in his late 60s were both detained on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of illicit tobacco during last week’s raids in Seaham.

Durham County Council consumer protection officers, backed up by officers from Durham Police, seized 6,400 cigarettes and 3.75 kilogrammes of hand rolling tobacco – with an estimated street value of £1,720.

All the tobacco products were suspected of being either counterfeit or smuggled.

More than £1,600 in cash was also detained in Wednesday’s dawn raids on the two properties.

They came on the back of similar raids at Seaham last month, in which two people were arrested and more than £8,000 in cash and 18,000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of £9,500 seized.

Since April 2015, the council’s consumer protection team has seized more than 480,000 cigarettes and more than 70kg of hand rolled tobacco, as well as more than £50,000 in cash.

Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “The high level of enforcement in this area reflects the concerns within communities of illegal sales of tobacco and the willingness of the public to report such activity.

“The message is clear to those still involved in supplying illegal tobacco”.

She added: “If you don’t stop now it is only a matter of time before you too will be paid a visit and more than likely face prosecution and proceeds of crime action.”