CUSTOMS and Excise officers today warned they were cracking down on people selling contraband cigarettes.

This follows raids on the Friends Corner Shop, Whalley Old Road, Blackburn and a pub in Whalley Banks, Blackburn.

The shop was targeted after officers received a tip off that the owner was selling non-duty paid cigarettes and tobacco.

Customs and Excise recovered 620 packets of Benson and Hedges cigarettes and 250 grams of Golden Virginia tobacco in the raid, on Thursday.

The owner of the shop is still being questioned.

If he admits to the offence he will be given a compound penalty - paying the outstanding duty on all of the products as well as an additional fine.

If suspects do not sign an agreement court action is taken.

At the pub raid last week six and a half kilos of hand rolled tobacco and around three hundred packets of cigarettes were recovered.

Customs and Excise have issued a compound penalty which is waiting to be signed.

A spokesman for Customs and Excise Matthew King said people would not get away with committing this type of crime for much longer.

He said: "It will not be tolerated and we are watching shops in the area so people have been warned.

"The initiative to have UK paid duty stamps on all products was put into being last June which helps make life a lot easier for us when we come to raid shops.

"We are able to determine straight away if the product is illegal, which makes it easier for us to pin point illegal products."