Thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco products have been seized as part of a major operation targeting suspected money laundering in Bradford.
West Yorkshire Trading Standards, the National Crime Agency (NCA), West Yorkshire Police and other agencies inspected businesses in Bradford on Wednesday, October 7.
Trading Standards officers seized more than 65,000 illegal cigarettes and 27kg of illicit hand-rolling tobacco worth more than £87,000.
Councillor Ian Walker, who attended the operation, said: “The action today sends a strong message to shop owners who continue to ignore the law – we will take firm action and use all the powers available to stop those traders from selling illegal goods on our high streets.
The seized tobacco products (Image: West Yorkshire Trading Standards)
“We will continue to work to protect residents and support legitimate businesses, helping keep Bradford safe.”
Two vehicles also seized
The operation was part of Operation Machinize, a national NCA initiative targeting the alleged use of cash-heavy businesses such as mini-markets and vape shops to launder criminal cash.
West Yorkshire Police also seized two vehicles and inspected a home in Leeds as part of the operation.
Councillor Raph Cohn, of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees Trading Standards, said the illegal tobacco and vape trade helped organised crime groups profit while hurting legitimate businesses.
“West Yorkshire Trading Standards’ involvement in this nationally coordinated operation demonstrates our commitment to working with partners to tackle crime on the high street for the benefit of our communities across West Yorkshire,” he said.
Illegal products are 'often sold to children'
Linda Davis, head of Trading Standards (Protecting Communities) for West Yorkshire, said illicit tobacco and vaping sales cost the Government millions of pounds in revenue each year and created unfair competition for legitimate retailers.
The seized tobacco products (Image: West Yorkshire Trading Standards)
She said: “We know that those involved in selling illegal tobacco and vapes are often selling these products to children too and are also often involved in other criminality including money laundering, drugs and illegal working.
“We have taken a significant amount of illegal goods - including harmful tobacco - off the streets of West Yorkshire, preventing them from being purchased by children and disrupting organised criminality.”
Anyone who knows of businesses selling illicit tobacco or vapes, or supplying age-restricted products to children, can anonymously contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.