West Yorkshire Trading Standards and officers from the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team raided a number of premises last week.
The joint operation led to goods worth around £83,000 being seized.
These included almost 3,000 boxes of cigarettes, hundreds of pouches of tobacco, more than 600 oversized vapes, several single use vapes and two bottles of stolen alcohol.
Some of the seized goods (Image: Police) The investigation continues as police carry out a summer campaign to make town centres safer.
Shoplifter banned
A Leeds shoplifter was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and banned from entering six shops around Leeds.
Joanne Briscoe, 43, of Poplar Way, Bramley, was convicted of theft from a shop last month.
She has been handed a CBO which will be in place for two years.
Seized goods (Image: Police) It bans her from entering Savers on Town Street, Armley; Aldi on Stanningley Road, Leeds; Tesco in Bramley shopping centre; Sainsburys on Ring Road, Leeds; One Stop on Whingate, Leeds; and Home Bargains on Stanningley Road, Leeds.
Breach of a CBO can lead to prosecution and a prison sentence.
‘Illegal goods used to fund serious and organised crime’
Sergeant Steve Ellis from the Leeds West Neighbourhood Police team said: “We continue to use the full range of powers available to us to tackle the issues which blight our communities.
Some of the items seized by police (Image: Police) “We know that the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes is often linked to anti-social behaviour and crime, and it is especially concerning when these items are suspected of being sold to children.
“The cash from the sale of such goods can also be used to fund serious and organised crime so it is vital we continue to do all we can to take them off the streets.
“I would urge anyone with information about illicit tobacco and vapes to contact us so we can take action.”
People can report information by contacting West Yorkshire Police online or calling 101.
Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.