Lancashire Police and Trading Standards have seized nearly £200,000 worth of illegal cigarettes, tobacco, and e-cigarettes after coordinated raids on 22 retail premises across the county this month, issuing closure orders and freezing bank accounts as part of a widening crackdown on illicit trade.
Warrants were executed in Preston, Blackburn, Oswaldtwistle, Lancaster, Morecambe and Nelson under Operation Wanderstar, with support from Immigration Enforcement, the Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and local neighbourhood policing teams. Six people were arrested for a range of offences, while thousands of pounds in cash — including suspected counterfeit notes — were recovered. Temporary closure orders have been enforced at three businesses linked to the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes.
Investigators also deployed financial crime powers to disrupt suspected laundering routes. An account linked to a New Hall Lane business director in Preston containing £300,000 has been frozen amid ongoing ECU enquiries, while a separate Account Freezing Order has placed £14,064.29 on hold during a financial investigation.
Key actions at a glance
- Nelson: American Sweet Shop, Railway Road — Oct 6 raid recovered £70,000 of illegal tobacco and cigarettes and £1,000 cash; three arrests on suspicion of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader. On Oct 12, officers returned, seizing a further £50,000 of illicit tobacco and cigarettes and a machete. One man was arrested on suspicion of participating in fraudulent business, acquiring/using/possessing criminal property, and possessing a knife in a public place. All have been bailed pending further enquiries. A closure notice has been served; the case was adjourned at Blackburn Magistrates Court until Oct 31 and the shop remains closed.
- Nelson: Armico News, Scotland Road — 400 packets of illicit cigarettes and suspected counterfeit Labubu dolls seized.
- Nelson: Kofland, Barkerhouse Road — £4,000 worth of tobacco and cigarettes recovered from a van. Immigration officers arrested two men on suspicion of immigration offences.
- Nelson: Swojska Chata, Scotland Road — 150 illicit vapes seized. Pendle Borough Council secured the voluntary surrender of out-of-date food.
- Nelson: Avon Convenience Store, Scotland Road — two counterfeit superhero toys seized.
- Nelson/Brierfield: Temporary closure orders served at The Best-One (Barkerhouse Road, Nelson) and Tymbark (Colne Road, Brierfield).
- Oswaldtwistle: Ossy Mini Market, Union Road, and an adjoining premises — 690 cartons of illicit tobacco products valued at £12,000 seized.
- Blackburn: 7 Days Blackburn Ltd, Railway Road — 14,000 packets of illegal/counterfeit cigarettes and 3kg of illicit tobacco valued at £15,000 seized; some products had been concealed within shop fittings.
- Lancaster: Lancaster Halal, Rosemary Lane — Oct 23 warrant recovered 183 packets of illegal cigarettes, a carton of Amber Leaf tobacco and two illegal vapes, totalling £3,000.
- Lancaster/Morecambe: Cease and Desist Notices issued at The Beer Store (Cheapside, Lancaster) and The Black Corner (264 Marine Road Central, Morecambe).
- Preston: Preston Saver, New Hall Lane — Oct 23 warrant led to the seizure of £15,000 of illegal cigarettes and £750 of illegal vapes; officers found sophisticated concealment compartments. ECU financial checks are ongoing.
- Preston: Ezee Shop, New Hall Lane — £3,000 of illegal cigarettes discovered concealed within shelving structures.
“This work is about targeting those businesses who seek to flout the law for their own financial gain,” said DI Libby Wadsworth of Lancashire Police’s Economic Crime Unit. “Not only are they harming legitimate businesses, they are also putting their customers at risk by trying to pass off inferior products as the real thing. We have taken significant action to disrupt this illegal activity across the county. This work will continue.”
Councillor Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said the joint operation “sends out a very strong message” to traders who ignore regulations. “Illicit cigarettes and vapes worth almost £200,000 were seized,” he said, urging the public to report concerns to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Why it matters for the vape channel
- Escalating enforcement: The raids underscore how UK authorities are widening their focus beyond illicit tobacco to include non-compliant e-cigarettes — particularly disposables and oversized or unnotified products — with powers ranging from closure orders to account freezing.
- Financial crime lens: The use of ECU tools to freeze accounts and probe suspicious transactions highlights increasing scrutiny of the supply chain and cashflow associated with illicit product distribution.
- Level playing field: Authorities stressed the harm to compliant retailers who incur regulatory and product testing costs. Expect intensified checks on product compliance (including notification status, packaging/labelling and nicotine volume limits) and greater partnership working between Trading Standards, police and immigration teams.
For consumers, illicit and counterfeit vaping products pose safety and quality risks, including uncertain ingredients, non-compliant nicotine strengths and poor manufacturing standards. For retailers, the message is clear: keep supply chains documented, verify product compliance, and be prepared for due diligence checks.
Anyone with information about illicit tobacco or vape sales in Lancashire can contact police via non-emergency channels or report to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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