TEN suspected illegal immigrants have been arrested in Huddersfield.

Police also seized thousands of pounds of untaxed tobacco in a series of raids across the town centre.

Officers arrested eight men suspected of being illegal immigrants at the Qandeel Middle Eastern restaurant on Brook Street.

They also discovered 20kg of illegally-imported tobacco for hookah pipes.

After further enquiries, another two suspected illegal immigrants were arrested in Dalton.

Police also discovered 45kg of illegally-imported tobacco at the former College Arms pub on Queensgate and 10kg of tobacco at John William News on John William Street.

Altogether some £7,500 of untaxed tobacco was seized during Wednesday’s raids.

Sgt John McFadzean, of Huddersfield South Policing Team, said: “We’re working very closely with the immigration authorities to ensure that everyone in Huddersfield is legally allowed to be in the country.

“All of the tobacco seized was the type used in hookah pipes, the excise duty is about £75 a kilo.

“There does seem to be a lot of illegal tobacco in the Huddersfield area and some of it is 20 times as toxic as legal tobacco.”

This week’s operation was the latest in a series being carried out by police and by immigration officers in the town.

Last month three suspected illegal immigrants were seized at a textile firm in Huddersfield.

And in January police made arrests at a town centre takeaway.

Last year there were a number of raids carried out at takeaways and shops in Huddersfield town centre.

Police seized suspected illegal tobacco worth many thousands of pounds and made a number of arrests.