Dogs have sniffed out more than £7,500 worth of illicit cigarettes and rolling tobacco in a series of raids across Bradford and Leeds city centres.

The operation, carried out in partnership between the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), HM Revenue and Customs and West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, discovered 24,100 cigarettes and 25.3 kilos of tobacco.

The sting, on 18 June, formed part of the wider ‘Operation Henry’ which runs from April through to September across nine regions in England.

The dogs helped detect concealed tobacco at four out of five stores visited.

TSI chief executive Leon Livermore said: “This partnership is one more example of how trading standards works with the private and public sector to protect consumers and support legal business practices.”

The seizure included smuggled and counterfeit products and raids were conducted as a result of information received by the public.