Police have seized thousands of pounds worth of illicit cigarettes and vapes from a shop in Lancaster as part of proactive operations to target businesses flouting the law across Lancashire.
As part of Operation Wanderstar, police worked with colleagues from Lancashire Trading Standards and Immigration Enforcement, the Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and local neighbourhood policing teams.
As part of the activity, a search warrant was issued at Lancaster Halal on Rosemary Lane, where 183 packets of illegal cigarettes, a carton of amber leaf tobacco and two illegal vapes were seized.
The total value of the items was £3,000.
In addition, Cease and Desist Notices were issued at both The Beer Store on Cheapside in Lancaster city centre, and The Black Corner on Marine Road Central in Morecambe.
In total, officers visited 22 premises across the county, seizing thousands of pounds in cash, counterfeit cash, frozen bank accounts suspected of being used for money laundering and temporarily closed three businesses linked to the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes. Six arrests have been made for various offences.
Operation Wanderstar comes under the banner of the National Crime Agency’s Operation Machinize - a national campaign aimed at the disruption of cash being laundered in the UK.
DI Libby Wadsworth, from the ECU, said: “This work is about targeting those businesses who seek to flout the law for their own financial gain. Not only are they harming legitimate businesses, they are also putting their customers at risk by trying to pass off inferior products as the real thing.
“The ECU alongside our NHP teams have been working with our partners at Lancashire Trading Standards and Immigration Enforcement were we have taken significant action to disrupt this illegal activity across the county.
‘’This work will continue and if you have any concerns about illegal activity in your area, report it to the police and we will take the appropriate action.”
Councillor Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said: "This sends out a very strong message that we will continue to work with partners to take robust enforcement action against traders who continue to break the law.
"Anyone who has concerns about the sale of vapes or tobacco products can report them to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133."
Report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/PEDisclaimer/Create or call 101.
UPDATE: Two men charged with robbery and burglary offences at Morecambe and Lancaster shops
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