MORE than £80,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vape products have been seized during a month-long police crackdown across Cheshire, which also saw four illegal workers identified and one arrest.
It follows Cheshire Constabulary stepping up action against the sale of illegal tobacco products and the exploitation of vulnerable people following a series of operations throughout October.
Officers from the force’s Foreign National Offender (FNO), Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) and local Beat Management teams took part in two major operations – Machinize and Ascertain – working alongside partner agencies.
Under Operation Machinize, officers supported the National Crime Agency’s initiative targeting money laundering and the criminal use of cash in high street businesses.
Working with Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HMRC and local authority representatives, officers carried out 32 visits to commercial premises across Cheshire.
The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately £80,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vape products.
HMRC is now pursuing business owners identified during the operation, who could face substantial fines from HMRC and Trading Standards, as well as possible prosecution.
Officers also carried out safeguarding enquiries to identify potential signs of modern-day slavery and the exploitation of vulnerable people, particularly in cash-heavy business environments.
Meanwhile, Operation Ascertain saw the Foreign National Offender Team work alongside Home Office Immigration colleagues in 10 deployments across town centres and night-time economy settings.
The operation focused on immigration checks on delivery drivers to ensure they were legally entitled to work in the UK and were not being exploited.
A total of 160 people and 161 vehicles were stopped during the deployments.
Other results included:
– 23 traffic reports issued.
– 15 vehicles seized, including cars and e-bikes.
– Four illegal workers identified.
– One arrest made.
– Two people summonsed to court.
Local authority CCTV operators also supported the operation, monitoring areas in real time to help prevent crime and enable a rapid response to incidents.
Officers additionally focused on tackling violence against women and girls, with further Operation Ascertain deployments planned into the new year.
Detective Inspector Lauren Henthorn, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Force Intelligence Bureau, said the operations demonstrated the force’s commitment to tackling organised criminality and protecting vulnerable people.
She said officers had identified links between the sale of illicit products, immigration crime and modern slavery offences.
She added that the checks on delivery workers were part of wider efforts to prevent exploitation and ensure those working in the sector were correctly licensed and had the right to work.
With town centres expected to become increasingly busy in the run-up to Christmas, she said the operations also provided reassurance that police were working to ensure people could enjoy the night-time economy safely.
Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox, also of the Force Intelligence Bureau, said the operations represented just a snapshot of the work carried out by officers and partner agencies throughout the year to safeguard vulnerable people.
Further Operation Machinize deployments are planned throughout November.
Anyone with information relating to exploitation or concerns about someone’s safety can contact Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or report online through the force website.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
