Cheshire Constabulary's Eastern Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) and Exploitation team were joined by Cheshire East Trading Standards teams for a deployment targeting illegal products and immigration crime at retailers in Cheshire East.

On Friday 24 October, officers from the Eastern PVP Exploitation team, alongside a colleague from the Foreign National Offender team and partners from Cheshire East Trading Standards undertook a number of visits to retailers in relation to the National Crime Agency's Operation Machinize initiative.

The teams visited four premises on West Street in Crewe, with seizures conducted by both police and Trading Standards.

Officers also returned to a number of premises across the east that had been visited on previous deployments and were again found to be selling the illegal products.

The teams visited four premises on West Street in Crewe, with seizures conducted by both police and Trading Standards (Photo: Ryan Parker).

A follow up visit was conducted at a premises on Bradwall Road, Sandbach, that had been previously visited a week earlier, and a considerable number of illicit products were seized. Despite already having been visited on this occasion, more even illicit cigarettes and tobacco was seized from the premises.

Another follow up visit was conducted at a premises in Congleton, where a concealment was discovered within a wall containing banned single use vapes and cigarettes that were the seized.

In total, over 1100 packets of cigarettes, 3kg of hand rolling tobacco and over 50 counterfeit toys were seized, along with over 90 banned single use vapes as well as other non-compliant products.

The retail value of products seized is believed to be estimated at around £28,000. A number of vulnerable people have also been safeguarded.

Detective Inspector, Martin Caldwell, said: "We work hard to tackle criminals operating in our communities and Operation Machinize demonstrates just some of the work we do all year round to keep our residents and vulnerable people safe.

"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. 

In total, over 1100 packets of cigarettes, 3kg of hand rolling tobacco and over 50 counterfeit toys were seized, along with over 90 banned single use vapes as well as other non-compliant products (Photo: Cheshire Police).

"Whilst was disappointing to see that some of the premises we had already visited were, again, choosing to sell these dangerous and illegal products, today's operation has demonstrated that will not just visit a premises and not return to take action against any further offences.

"We regularly pay visits to all our retailers, especially those who have previously offended, to ensure to no criminality is occurring- always taking action when and where we find that it has."

Anyone with concerns about organised immigration crime can contact Cheshire Police via 101 or visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/ and a member of their local PVP Exploitation Team.

You can also report businesses that you think may be selling illicit cigarettes and tobacco at https://keep-it-out.co.uk/ or https://crimestoppers-uk.org/