A nationwide crackdown targeting illicit tobacco and vape sales has resulted in the seizure of millions of illegal products and significant financial proceeds across the UK. Operation Machinize 2, a month-long initiative led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in collaboration with police forces, HMRC, and Trading Standards, focused on dismantling criminal networks exploiting high street businesses for money laundering and the sale of counterfeit goods.
The operation saw authorities raid 2,734 premises, leading to 924 arrests and the confiscation of approximately £10.7 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Among the seized items were over 4.5 million illegal cigarettes, 600kg of illicit tobacco, and 111,000 illegal vapes. Officials estimate the haul represents approximately £3.4 million in unpaid duty, with an additional £2.7 million worth of counterfeit and potentially harmful products destroyed.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis stated that the coordinated effort is part of a broader drive to "dismantle criminal networks and protect honest business owners." NCA officials described the operation as setting a "new standard" for joint enforcement. The scale of seizures, particularly the significant increase compared to the first phase of Operation Machinize in April, highlights the growing problem of illicit trade impacting communities across the UK. The focus on both traditional tobacco and the rapidly expanding vape market underscores the government's commitment to addressing these illegal activities.
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