Lancashire Constabulary spearheaded a multi-force three-day operation to seize illicit tobacco and counterfeit items from stores across the region.
As part of Operation Wanderstar, over the course of three days, officers from Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and HMRC, Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and local neighbourhood policing teams visited 30 premises in Preston, Chorley, South Ribble, Blackburn, Pendle, Blackpool, Morecambe, Lytham and Thornton-Cleveleys.
Through the operation, they seized cigarettes and tobacco products worth thousands of pounds as well as counterfeit Labubu dolls, fidget toys and phone cases, and issued closure notices to several businesses linked to the sale of illicit cigarettes.
Some of the illegal items were stashed inside hidden compartments and found by tobacco detection dogs, while others came following community intelligence.
On Tuesday 13 October, they attended eight shops, two barber shops and one takeaway in Blackburn and Pendle. Items were seized at four shops while two failed test purchases. A total of 835 packets of illicit cigarettes, 109 packets of hormone replacement therapy, 35 counterfeit phone cases, seven counterfeit Labubu dolls and 20 counterfeit fidget toys were also seized.
As a result of the activity, two closure notices were issued to shops, and four more closure orders are being sought, meanwhile, a cease-and-desist order was issued to Parkinson Convenience Store in Parkinson Street, Blackburn, after 1,537 illicit cigarettes and 600g of tobacco worth approximately £2,000 were found. A fine of £2,500 has also been issued by HMRC.
On Wednesday 14 October, a warrant was executed at Marsden Mini Market in Marsden Road, Blackpool. Officers seized 80 packets of illicit cigarettes in a bag thrown from a window along with another 350 packets from a vehicle. 70 packs of illicit were recovered from Corner Shop in The Crescent, Lytham; 180 packets of illicit cigarettes from Blue Vape in Queen Street, Morecambe; 70 sleeves of illicit cigarettes worth more than £1,000 at Shop Locally in Dickson Road, Blackpool; 450 packets of illicit cigarettes from West End Mini Market in Regent Road and 120 packets of illicit cigarettes from Mini Market in Victoria Road West, Thornton-Cleveleys
Finally, on Thursday 15 October, officers visited Eastern European Convenience Store in Friargate, Preston, and seized 49 packets of illicit cigarettes and seven pouches of tobacco after the owner attempted to throw it over a rear wall onto wasteland behind the shop.
They also seized approximately 500 packets of illicit cigarettes and tobacco pouches at Big Saver in New Hall Lane, Preston, after being discovered in a hide; 236 illicit packets of cigarettes and 36 pouches of tobacco at Grab & Go in Hope Terrace, Lostock Hall; approximately 500 packets of cigarettes and tobacco pouches at Easy Shop in Chapel Brow, Leyland, and 191 packets of illicit cigarettes and 33 pouches of tobacco hidden within boxes of soft drinks at Supercigs in Pall Mall, Chorley
ECU’s DI Jo Collinson said: “Our priority is to tackle businesses that deliberately break the law for financial gain. Their actions not only undermine legitimate businesses but also put customers at risk by selling substandard products as genuine goods.
“Our Economic Crime Unit, working alongside our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Lancashire Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and HMRC, has taken significant action to disrupt this illegal activity across the county.
“This work will continue, and we urge anyone with concerns about suspected illegal activity in their area to report it to police so that appropriate action can be taken.”
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