Officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Exploitation Team joined forces with Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service on Thursday 14 May as part of ongoing efforts to tackle Organised Immigration Crime.

Operation Accommodate was led by Detective Sergeant Andrew Manson, of the Western Exploitation Team at Cheshire Police, and as part of the operation the team targeted four stores in Chester and Neston which were suspected of being linked to Organised Immigration Crime.

The team were also assisted by a specialist Tobacco Detection Dog, who helped locate over 11,000 counterfeit and illegal cigarettes, many of which were hidden in sophisticated concealment hides.

These included Local Station Off Licence, on Brook Street, Chester, where officers recovered over 7,000 illegal cigarettes; Easy Go Vapes, on Delamere Street, Chester, where over 1,200 illegal cigarettes were seized and King Vape Mini Market, on High Street, Neston, where the tobacco dog helped locate over 3,000 illegal cigarettes.

All of these products were subsequently seized by officers and will be destroyed. Trading Standards colleagues are now seeking closure orders on two of the premises.

Detective Sergeant Andy Mason, of the Western Exploitation Team, said:

“As a result of this operation we’ve recovered well over 11,000 fake cigarettes from three stores, which will have considerably disrupted the efforts of those looking to benefit from criminal activity.

“We work hard to tackle criminals operating in our communities and this operation demonstrates just some of the work we do all year round to keep our residents and vulnerable people safe.

“We have seen links between 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.

“I hope this operation highlights to members of the public the volume of work that goes into keeping our residents safe from those who are intent on causing risk and harm to our communities.”