Nearly 15,000 illicit cigarettes and vapes discovered in a Blackburn shop
The raid was part of a nationwide crackdown on criminal exploitation in high streets
Almost 15,000 illicit cigarettes and dozens of illegal vapes were discovered when a Blackburn town centre shop was raided as part of a nationwide crackdown on the criminal exploitation of high street businesses.
The retail premises – The 7 Day Mini Market located opposite Primark and the bus station – was one of more than 2,700 barbers, minimarts, and vape shops targeted in the UK’s largest ever crackdown of its kind on money laundering, people trafficking and smuggling.
Throughout the month of October, the National Crime Agency co-ordinated a national swoop called Operation Machinize 2.
Thousands of businesses were targeted in the largest operation of its kind and involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs and Companies House.
On Tuesday October 21, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s trading standards team carried out a raid on the shop alongside Blackburn and Darwen Police Task Force, the Police Economic Crime Unit, a sniffer dog and the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team.
Items seized were:
13 pouches of shisha tobacco (incorrectly labelled – without relevant UK health warnings); 3,050g of hand rolling tobacco (all non-duty paid, with a mixture of offences under the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and Trade Marks Act 1994); 14,387 illicit cigarettes (all non-duty paid, with a mixture of offences under the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and Trade Marks Act 1994); and 35 non-compliant vapes.
The items were concealed behind kickboards in the main shop and the storeroom.
As a result of these discoveries, the owner is currently being investigated and his possible punishments includes prison sentences and the surrender of all assets used in criminality.
Blackburn with Darwen Council environment boss Cllr Jim Smith said: “Our trading standards team work incredibly hard to keep our community safe, often undertaking raids on businesses in the borough to disrupt the cash received from selling illegitimate products.
“Taking part in national operations such as Operation Machinize 2 is an opportunity to work with our colleagues across the country to have real impact and I’m proud that we have contributed to the overall figures.
“Thank you to all involved in the raid that took place in Blackburn. We will not rest while there are criminals operating in the borough.”
During the national operation, 2,734 premises were visited and raided with 924 individuals arrested.
Rachael Herbert, director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: “Operation Machinize targets businesses on our high street that are being used as cover for a wide range of criminality, making our communities less safe and less prosperous.
“This second phase of Operation Machinize has set a new standard for what can be achieved through the coordinated action of UK law enforcement.”