More than 1,500 boxes of illicit cigarettes have been seized and two men arrested after concerns were raised to police in Ashford.

On 18 March, beat officers attended a community engagement event in the town centre.

Officers were given information from concerned residents about a premises which was being used in suspicious circumstances.

Residents explained how the front door of the property was routinely left open, with unknown persons accessing the building, as well as climbing the rear gate late in the evening.

Responding to the concerns of the community, local officers headed to the area and identified the property, making enquiries at scene. These initial enquiries led to one person being located within and being arrested for possession of criminal property.

A second male fled the property via a first-floor window but was swiftly detained by officers before also being arrested for the same offences. Officers then began searches of the property, which resulted in approximately £4,000 in cash being recovered and a large quantity of illicit tobacco products. In total, there was over 1,500 boxes of cigarettes seized from the property.

One man has since been released under investigation and another was released without charge. Enquiries remain ongoing with an investigation launched by Kent Police.

The arrests coincide with ongoing operations in collaboration with Trading Standards around Ashford Town Centre, which have resulted in further illicit tobacco products being seized from shops.

More from: Kent Police · Kent Trading Standards