CUSTOMS officers raided 15 shops and homes across Oxfordshire in a swoop on illicit alcohol and cigarettes.

Officers seized 7,200 smuggled cigarettes, a small quantity of hand-rolling tobacco, 22 litres of wine and 373 litres of spirits during the raids on Thursday and Friday.

Six shops and nine homes were targeted.

It is understood an off-licence in the St Clement’s Street area was among those raided by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs officers.

One onlooker, who did not wish to be named, said he saw three men and a woman carrying out four cardboard boxes and a plastic bag from the off-licence, before emptying a van connected to the shop of bottles of what appeared to be vodka.

HMRC spokesman Georgina Myles said: “We cannot confirm the exact locations of the raids but we can confirm that included premises in the St Clement’s area.

“We were looking at the sale of illicit alcohol and tobacco.

“No arrests were made but enquiries are continuing.

“We would encourage people in local communities to help us with the fight against the illicit sale of tobacco and alcohol.”

Six officers carried out the raids on Thursday and seven on Friday.

As well as premises in central Oxford, raids were understood to be carried out in the Banbury, Chinnor and Witney areas.