Corby and Wellingborough businesses raided targeting money laundering and organised crime
The operation, part of the ongoing National Crime Agency-coordinated project to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses, saw officers seize a total of 998 packets of cigarettes and 42 packets of hand-rolling tobacco.
More than £2,700 in cash and suspected illicit tobacco products have been seized following raids on businesses in Corby and Wellingborough as part of a multi-agency operation targeting money laundering and organised crime.
The enforcement was part of Operation Machinize, the ongoing National Crime Agency (NCA)-coordinated project to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses, and immigration crime.
Officers and police staff from Northamptonshire Police's Economic Crime Team were joined by partners from North Northamptonshire Council’s trading standards as part of three days of enforcement activity across the county.
Detective Inspector Tania Ash, of Northamptonshire Police's economic crime team, said: ”Money laundering helps organised criminals conceal the proceeds of crime and enables further offending, often at the expense of legitimate businesses and local communities.
“Operations such as this demonstrate the value of partnership working in identifying and disrupting criminal activity, while ensuring businesses comply with the relevant legislation and regulations.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to tackle economic crime and protect our communities from those who seek to profit from criminality.”
At American Plus in Corby, officers discovered a concealed stash within the premises - about £2,700 in cash was seized, along with a bank card in the name of another individual. Trading standards officers also seized suspected illicit cigarettes and tobacco from the premises. In total, 998 packets of cigarettes, with a retail value of £16,017.90 and an estimated illicit street value of £4,990, were seized. Officers also seized 42 packets of hand-rolling tobacco with a retail value of £1,946.70 and an estimated illicit street value of £336.
In Wellingborough, at 3 Star Packaging in Unit 126 of the Leyland Trading Estate, trading standards officers seized a quantity of toys as part of ongoing product safety and compliance checks. A total of 895 non-compliant toys and five suspected counterfeit vape products were seized. Advice was provided to the business regarding product compliance requirements.
Cllr Kirk Harrison, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for regulatory services, said: “Money laundering enables criminals to conceal illicit proceeds, reinvesting them into further unlawful activity, undermining legitimate trade and posing risks to consumers, legitimate businesses and communities alike.
“This operation shows the importance of organisations working together to identify and disrupt criminal behaviour, ensure compliance with relevant legislation, and protect consumers from the harm that can arise where criminality infiltrates legitimate markets.
“Our trading standards service remains committed to working with partners to combat economic crime, promote a fair and safe trading environment, and protect consumers and legitimate businesses from those who seek to benefit from unlawful activity.”
Operation Machinize brings together law enforcement and regulatory partners from across the UK to disrupt criminal networks and prevent the use of businesses to launder criminal proceeds.
No arrests were made during the operation.