Authorities across the United Kingdom have launched a sweeping crackdown targeting illicit vape and mobile phone shops, with coordinated raids on more than 2,700 premises leading to hundreds of arrests.
Operation Machinize 2: A Nationwide Assault on High Street Crime
The raids form a central part of Operation Machinize 2, a nationwide initiative designed to combat crime on the high street. The operation focuses on cash-intensive businesses operating in the so-called "grey economy," which police suspect are frequently connected to money laundering activities.
A multi-agency task force, comprising approximately 80 officials from the Labour Party government, the Metropolitan Police, HM Revenue and Customs, local authorities, and Trading Standards, executed the operations. The planning received strategic support from the National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK's lead body for fighting serious and organised crime.
Staggering Haul of Illegal Goods Seized
The results of the crackdown, which included 924 arrests, reveal the scale of the problem. Law enforcement confiscated a vast array of illicit items, including:
- More than £10.7 million in suspected illegal proceeds.
- 111,000 illegal vapes.
- 70kg of cannabis.
- A staggering 4.5 million illegal cigarettes.
Inspector Oliver Lamb provided insight into the persistent nature of the offences. "It's not the first time we have been to some of these shops – for some it's been the third visit this year," he stated.
Beyond Seizures: The Push to Shut Down Rogue Traders
Inspector Lamb explained that initial enforcement actions, which focused on removing stock, had proven insufficient as a deterrent. "Originally we thought that removal of the stock would be a significant enough message... When we came earlier this year we seized £18,200 worth of Apple products alone... So it didn't disrupt them," he admitted.
The operation targeted products that fail fire safety checks, are counterfeit, and breach laws designed to protect children. Lamb highlighted the dual threat of such goods, citing both consumer harm and public health risks. "[Counterfeit goods] are a source of public frustration. They buy the product, they find it's fake and then they've got no consumer rights," he said.
He expressed particular concern over counterfeit vapes, noting, "we've got no idea what people are inhaling from it." The ultimate goal, according to Lamb, is clear: "Success is shutting these businesses down and making way for legitimate ones."
