Police from the City of Manchester Central district, alongside partnership agencies, focussed on several businesses along Stockport Road, in Longsight, and surrounding areas as part of a national operation cracking down on organised criminality on local high streets.
-Teams visited businesses including convenience shops, beauty salons, barbershops, a bakery and more.
The visits tackle issues such as health and safety hazards, unlicensed products being sold over the counter, the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes, immigration crime, money laundering, drug dealing and exploitation.
Officers recovered various cartons of illicit cigarettes, disposable vapes and tobacco products to the total of £30,256.60.
In one premises, a large concealment was discovered behind a hydraulic wall filled with illicit cigarettes. On further inspection, several more cartons of illicit cigarettes were found hidden behind foam ceiling tiles.
As a result of the day, three men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and breach of bail conditions.
Two businesses were referred to our civil penalties team for a fine of up to £60,000 per worker, and six businesses will be referred to HMRC for sanctions of up to £10,000.
Meanwhile, the Housing and Compliance team served two Emergency Prohibition Orders on flats above two retail premises.
A referral will be made to Environmental Health, and to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in relation to some products found in a beauty shop.
PC Francesca Hooley, City of Manchester Central District Intelligence Unit said:“Yesterday we held a proactive operation, as part of a national intensification period led by the NCA, alongside our partner agencies to tackle criminality in our local high streets.
“The day yielded successful results with three arrests made by Immigration Enforcement Officers and seizures to the value of over £30,000.
“As a result of this work, we have removed large quantities of harmful substances; drugs, illegal vapes, illicit cigarettes, that otherwise would have be sold to our local communities, putting people at risk.
“Our work does not stop here, and we will continue to protect our communities from the harms of illegal products, while ensuring those involved in this criminality are held accountable.
“We take any information we receive seriously, so I urge people to continue to provide Greater Manchester Police with information, and we will continue to investigate all aspects of this criminality and act upon it accordingly.”
