Counterfeit cigarettes, illegal vapes and a machete in Wellingborough town centre shop raids
Raids at a number of Wellingborough town centre businesses have discovering a host of illegal items, including 203,000 non-duty paid and counterfeit cigarettes, and a machete.
The raids at premises in Market Street, Cambridge Street and Victoria Road on November 26, saw His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) also seize 40kg of hand rolling tobacco with an estimated unpaid excise duty of around £120,000.
Joint warrants were executed by neighbourhood policing officers, HMRC, Trading Standards, and North Northamptonshire Council.
Wellingborough Neighbourhood policing sergeant Glenn Thompson said: “This enforcement action across several business addresses, in conjunction with our partners, was only possible due to the large number of community intelligence from members of the public concerned about the supply of some of these products.
“We hope this operation demonstrates that we won’t tolerate any kind of criminal activity in our towns. Action like this wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of the public, and we encourage people to report any information or concerns to us.”
Police also found and recovered a machete, a quantity of Nitrous Oxygen Systems, cannabis vapes, non-UK compliant prescription medicine, and more than £7,000 in cash and fireworks, as well as counterfeit clothing, children’s toys and more than 3,500 illegal vapes,
The Environmental Health Team at North Northamptonshire Council also served notices on several businesses in relation to their waste disposal processes.
Those who are keen to share details on potentially suspicious criminal activity can report non-emergency crime to 101, or online at www.northants.police.uk/RO Reports can also be made to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service by contacting 08082231133.