Cannabis vapes, a machete and more than 203,000 illicit cigarettes were seized during multi-agency raids in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, last month.
Joint warrants were executed by Northamptonshire Police, HMRC, Trading Standards and North Northamptonshire Council at several shops in Market Street, Cambridge Street and Victoria Road.
The crackdown uncovered 203,000 illicit cigarettes and 40kg of illegal tobacco, worth £120,000 in unpaid excise duty, said HMRC.
Police recovered a machete, nitrous oxide systems (Class C drug), cannabis vapes, non-UK compliant prescription medicine, and more than £7,000 in cash and fireworks.
Counterfeit clothing, children’s toys and more than 3,500 illegal vapes were also seized from Trading Standards.
Several businesses were served notices by the council in relation to their waste disposal processes.
The enforcement action was “only possible” due to the large number of community intelligence from members of the public, said the police.
Wellingborough Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Glenn Thompson said: “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.”
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