Over £115k worth of illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vapes removed from Cheshire’s streets

A long-running operation, led by the National Crime Agency, has resulted in £116k worth of illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vapes seized from retailers across the county and a number of vulnerable people safeguarded.

Over the course of October, Cheshire Police supported the National Crime Agency’s Operation Machinize initiative, a long-running operation specifically designed to target money laundering and the criminal use of cash-incentives in high street businesses.

Across the county, officers from the Protecting Vulnerable People Exploitation team and Foreign National Offender team worked alongside colleagues from Trading Standards and HMRC conducting a number of visits to commercial premises in relation to the distribution of illicit products and potential immigration and modern-day slavery offences being committed.

Colleagues from HMRC are now also pursuing the business owners identified who will be liable for large fines from both HMRC and Trading Standards and may face prosecution.

Exploitation teams also carried out safeguarding enquiries at the premises to identify signs of modern-day slavery, as cash-heavy business environments historically pose a higher risk of these offences occurring.

This joint effort between Cheshire Constabulary and their community partners resulted in the disruption of a number of commercial premises and the subsequent seizing of well over 100,000 illegal cigarettes and vapes, along with illegal tobacco and counterfeit toys

In total, the estimated value of the items seized is worth around £115,000.

Superintendent Andy Blizard, Area Commander for Crewe, said:

“Our officers work extremely hard in tackling organised criminals who flood our streets with harmful products that remain illegal for a reason.

“We have seen links to the sale of these illicit substances and organised immigration crime and modern slavery offences, which is why we are committed to doing all we can to identify those involved and protect those they have manipulated.

“Our dedicated officers from the Protecting Vulnerable People, Exploitation and Foreign National Offender teams regularly pay visits to all our county’s retailers, especially those who have been foolish enough to have previously offended, to ensure no further criminality has been occurring. We will always take action when and where we find that it has.

“The Constabulary’s participation in the National Crime Agency’s Operation Machinize highlights our ongoing commitment to relentlessly pursue organised criminals and protect the vulnerable people they choose to exploit, leaving them with nowhere to hide and no choice but to accept the fact Cheshire will always remain a hostile environment for criminals like them.”

The BBC has today published their own investigation, looking at organised crime gangs operating within mini-marts across the UK, enabling migrants to work illegally.

The feature includes a premises in on Nantwich Road, Crewe, which has previously been visited by officers from Cheshire Police in June 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to tackle the issue.

Superintendent Blizard added:

“As we have seen today, in the national news, this is an on-going issue and it is one that our officers remain committed to tackling.

“We have previously visited the Top Store on a number of occasions and, following today’s report, we have taken swift action against the premises.

“Officers visited the premises earlier today, Wednesday 5 November, where it was found that the store has changed hands in recent days and there was no trace of the suspects featured in the BBC’s piece.

“Enquiries in relation to the offences broadcast in the BBC’s piece remain on going and we will also be approaching the corporation in regards to any footage and evidence, which may assist our investigation.”