JTI has pulled two more gantries from stores caught selling illicit tobacco and alcohol.

Metro Food and Wine Limited in Slough and Quality Food and Wine in Reading were both prosecuted for selling illegal tobacco last year.

More than 100 packets of illegal cigarettes were seized at Metro Food and Wine last year while counterfeit Bollinger champagne was found in April 2010.

Quality Food and Wine, which was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 1 (Major Improvement Necessary) by Reading Borough Council on 16 December 2014, had also been selling illicit products.

Sniffer dogs found 2,000 smuggled and illegal cigarettes at the store in September, two years after the owner was prosecuted for illegally selling alcohol.

JTI’s UK head of corporate affairs Paul Williams said: “Given the offences committed by these retailers we cannot allow the JTI display equipment which we have provided to remain in the premises.

“Retailers’ involvement in these dishonest crimes are totally unacceptable and more can be done to eradicate the sale of illegal tobacco.”

Retailers aware of illicit sales in their area should contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000 he added.