CUSTOMS officers believe they are winning the fight against cigarette smugglers after reporting a drop in the number of seizures in the North-East.

Between 30 and 40 per cent less cigarettes were seized in the region between April and June, compared with the same period in 2000.

But Customs officials say this does not mean the contraband is more readily available - a fact borne out by the fact the street price does not appear to have dropped.

According to a spokesman, this suggests the Government's strategy to put tobacco smuggling into decline over a three-year period is being delivered.

However, the authority continues to make seizures in the North-East from three main sources:

l Highly-organised criminal gangs who are responsible for 80 per cent of cigarette smuggling into the UK.

l Smaller gangs who target the region's airports on flights from Spain and the Canary Islands.

l Dealers at street level who are responsible for selling on estates and car boot sales.

The spokesman said smuggled cigarettes were often brought into the region from other parts of the country, as well as from other countries.

A haul of 3.5 million cigarettes was seized in North Shields, North Tyneside, last month, while a further half million were seized from two houses in Washington, Wearside, last week.