CUSTOMS and Excise officers have confirmed their deployment to Keighley following a police raid in Highfield.

A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs today said its officers were sent to recover suspected illicit cigarettes found by police during the operation.

He said that, in the aftermath of the raid on a cannabis farm in Paget Street, the government department’s enquiries were ongoing.

He added: “Illicit tobacco products damage legitimate businesses and undermines public health. We will continue to pursue individuals and businesses who deal in illicit tobacco.

“We encourage anyone with information about tobacco fraud to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team, who carried out the raid on Thursday last week, estimated that large amount of packets, contained in several large cardboard boxes, represented £25,000 in unpaid duty.

The police officers also found approximately 50 cannabis plants. Two men were arrested on production of cannabis, and later released still under investigation for the offences.

NPT sergeant Pete Softley said: “The visit came on the back of community information.”

In a separate case, police said a Vietnamese male was arrested from an address in Devonshire Street, Keighley, on Monday this week as a result of 'community intelligence'.

Officers forced entry to the building and found over 120 cannabis plants and over 300 cannabis seedlings.

The male was later charged for production of cannabis and remanded into custody pending a court date.