Illegal goods seized from 21 Tameside businesses in major crackdown

Thousands of illegal products, ranging from illicit vapes to counterfeit children’s toys and unlicensed cosmetic injectables, have been seized from 21 businesses across Tameside in a major multi-agency crackdown on organised crime.

Tameside Council’s Trading Standards and Environmental Health teams joined forces with Greater Manchester Police, HMRC, UK Border Force, and Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service for three days of coordinated action in October as part of Operation Machinize.

The operation targeted shops and aesthetic clinics where intelligence suggested illegal goods were being supplied. Some premises had also previously sold illicit tobacco to undercover test purchasers.

During the raids, officers seized:

• 2,568 packets of illicit cigarettes and rolling tobacco with an estimated street value of £13,630.
• 1,652 illegal disposable vapes with an estimated street value of over £16,000.
• Illegal nicotine pouches, shisha and smoking accessories.
• More than 100 counterfeit “Labubu” toys, posing safety risks to children.

Environmental Health officers also confiscated 58 illegal cosmetic products, including botox (now prescription-only), nasal tanning sprays, B12 injections, fillers, and saline products found in unregulated aesthetic premises.

Alongside product seizures, partner agencies carried out checks for tax violations, illegal importation, fire safety breaches and other offences.

Operation Machinize is a national initiative led by the National Crime Agency, funded by the Home Office. It aims to disrupt organised crime, including immigration crime, money laundering, drugs supply and the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, activities often linked to exploitation and the funding of further criminality.

Investigations into the businesses involved are ongoing and further enforcement is expected.

Cllr Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods, hailed the operation as a major success.

“This is a great result thanks to the dedicated efforts of our officers working with partners to crack down on these rogue businesses that cause harm to our communities,” she said.

“Trade in illicit cigarettes, tobacco, vapes and other illegal goods supports crime rings, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people.

Our work does not stop here – we will continue to investigate and take enforcement action. Intelligence from the public is vital and we thank those who came forward and shared information with us.”

Anyone with information about the sale of illegal goods in Tameside is encouraged to report it anonymously via the council or Crimestoppers.

Some of the illegal products seized in the operation. Credit: Tameside Council