AN estimated 20 million illegal cigarettes shipped into Tilbury were seized yesterday.

The cigarettes, believed to be counterfeit, were worth about £3.4 million in potential duty.

The container, supposedly full of toys and games, was driven to an industrial unit in Upmister where its contents were confiscated following a covert surveillance operation by HM Revenue & Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Four men, who were in the process of unloading the smuggled cigarettes, were arrested.

John Kay, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation HMRC said: “The sheer quantity involved in this attempt suggests that these cigarettes could have ended up in locations across the UK.

“The huge profits reaped from the sales of these cigarettes would have been ploughed straight back into the criminal underworld, feeding activities like drug dealing and fraud. Buying cheap, smuggled cigarettes isn't a bargain - it means trading with criminals."

During the course of the evening the officers searched eight other premises and made three further arrests.

Seven people have been bailed to return for further questioning at a later date while enquiries are ongoing.