A three-day operation by customs officers which ended on Sunday evening has resulted in the discovery of a large amount of contraband.

Nearly 70,000 cigarettes and 18 kilos of tobacco were seized, along with quantities of beer, wine and spirits as officers visited Teesside homes, pubs and clubs, and mounted specific exercises at Teesside Airport and Teesport Docks.

Customs officers were also concentrating on vehicles suspected of running on illegal fuel. A total of 13 private vehicles were seized, which were found to be running on red diesel or kerosene and a number of commercial vehicle seizures were also made.

The retail value of the goods seized was about £20,000.