Fake Fags Bust! £3,000 Haul Found In Abandoned Car After Public Tip-Off
A stash of suspected counterfeit cigarettes worth around £3,000 has been seized in St Anne’s after alert members of the public tipped off police.
Officers from the Fylde Rural Task Force were acting on information from the community when they discovered an abandoned vehicle with its boot left open – and something inside immediately raised their suspicions.
As officers made enquiries, a man matching a description provided by witnesses walked around the corner and was stopped.
A search of the man revealed he was carrying the key to the abandoned vehicle.
When officers searched the boot, they uncovered a large haul of suspected fake cigarettes, with an estimated street value of around £3,000.
Further enquiries linked the man to a convenience store in the St Anne’s area.
Trading Standards were called to the scene and will now take the investigation forward with the business.
A Fylde Police spokesperson praised the public’s role in the operation, saying: “This was a great result from information provided by the public and some proactive police work.
“We can’t be everywhere, but with your help we can be in the right place at the right time.
“If something seems suspicious or doesn’t feel right, please report it. Your information really can make a difference.”
