More than 4.5 million illegal cigarettes, over 600kg of illicit tobacco and over 111,000 illegal vapes have been seized in a major national operation targeting criminal activity across UK high streets.
The month-long Operation Machinize 2, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in partnership with police forces, HMRC, Trading Standards, and other enforcement agencies, saw 2,734 premises raided, resulting in 924 arrests and the seizure of £10.7 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
Authorities estimate the haul of illegal cigarettes and tobacco represents around £3.4 million in unpaid duty. The seized products were destroyed along with other illicit commodities worth a total of £2.7 million, including harmful counterfeit vapes and drugs.
The operation, which ran throughout October, targeted the criminal exploitation of high street businesses such as mini-marts, convenience stores, and barbershops being used as fronts for money laundering, illegal sales and tax evasion.
“Criminals are using these dodgy shops as fronts for serious organised crime, money laundering and illegal working, risking the future of the British high street,” security minister Dan Jarvis said.
“We have intensified our joint efforts with law enforcement to dismantle criminal networks and relentlessly pursue those who use dirty money for personal gain. Together we have seized millions in criminal assets, removed harmful drugs from our streets and arrested hundreds of criminals who are undercutting honest business owners.”
Rachael Herbert, director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said the coordinated action has “set a new standard for what can be achieved through the coordinated action of UK law enforcement.”
“Depriving criminals of their source of income has a real impact, limiting the amount of funds they can reinvest in further offending and deterring them from taking spaces on our high street that could be used by legitimate businesses,” she added.
The previous version of Operation Machinize, launched in April, has led to the seizure of some 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and over 8,000 illegal vapes.
Illegal vapes seized during Operation Machinize 2Photo: Buckingham & Surrey Police
The NCA has warned that the misuse of high street premises is becoming a growing concern, with some being used as fronts for illicit trade and money laundering.
“We’ve seen every force in England and Wales working to build intelligence pictures, ensuring we are targeting people who are laundering illicit cash through businesses. We know this money will have links with other forms of criminality such as the exploitation of workers, people trafficking and the sale of illicit goods,” Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams, NPCC lead for financial investigation, said.
Sal Melki, Senior Lead for Machinize 2, said the operation has revealed the scale and diversity of offending occurring across the high street.
“Over the course of the month, we have learnt a lot about the threat, the different types of offending occurring on our high street and what tactics are effective in combatting it. The scale of this challenge is significant, but it is also important to remember that the majority of shops on our high streets are not considered suspicious,” Melki said.
“While there is organised crime occurring at the top of the pyramid, we do not underestimate the aggregated effect that thousands of shops engaged in so-called lower level criminality is having on our communities and the criminal supply chains that profit from them. The Machinize model therefore relies on local knowledge and delivery just as much as national coordination and intelligence.
“We acknowledge the problem won’t be solved overnight or through disruptive action alone – today’s high street is subject to many socio-economic factors beyond the scope of a law enforcement partnership. We are therefore working closely with government to use the learning from this operation to build on and develop long-term solutions.”
The NCA said the crackdown is part of a broader effort to tackle the grey economy and stop the spread of cash-based illicit trade that undermines legitimate high street retailers.
HMRC’s Kevin Hubbard added: “We are determined to allow honest businesses to thrive which is why it’s crucial we work closely with our law enforcement partners to take action against any business that we suspect are undermining the tax system.
“The majority pay the tax that is due, but we will pursue those who refuse to play by the rules.”