£400,000 worth of illicit tobacco has been seized and four premises were closed in Warrington.
A day of action took place on Wednesday 7 January 2026 as part of Operation Azelea, which focused on the sale of illicit vapes, tobacco and cigarettes, as well as those committing immigration offences through the exploitation of vulnerable people. It involved more than 40 officers from Warrington Beat, Proactive, and Protecting Vulnerable People Teams, as well as the Foreign National Offender team, Northern Problem Solving Team, Northern Area Investigation Team and the Drone Unit.
Over the course of the day, 11 retail premises were visited in Orford Lane, Marsh House Lane, Lovely Lane, Long Lane, Knutsford Road, Sankey Street, Winwick Street and Norris Street as well as one warrant at a domestic property in Orford Lane.
Four retail premises were handed closure orders for a period of three months - Lovely King Vape and William Market in Lovely Lane, Bargain Beers/Kings Convenience in Orford Lane and Dubai Mini Mart in Marsh House Lane, with a total of £400,000 worth of illicit tobacco seized and £640 worth of illegal vapes seized. One man of Syrian nationality was arrested by Immigration Enforcement for illegal working.
Commenting on the operation, Assistant Chief Constable Carlos Brunes said: “I am incredibly pleased with the results of this operation, with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of illicit tobacco seized and four premises closed, and I would like to extend my thanks to the officers involved and our partner agencies.
“This partnership working is pivotal in cracking down on those who are intent on selling illicit products, and is something we do day in, day out, to make our communities safer.
“While we know the vast majority of businesses across Warrington, and more widely across Cheshire, comply with laws and regulations, sadly there are those who feel they do not apply to them.But let this act as a warning; you cannot hide and we will do everything in our power to ensure Cheshire is a hostile place for those flouting the law.”
Detective Chief Inspector Christian Morris stressed the importance of treating illicit tobacco and vapes as a serious crime. “Some people may think that the sale of illicit vapes and cigarettes is a ‘minor issue’ however it’s important to note that these offences can be the result of a much more serious issue,” he said.
“Those involved in such activities often have links to drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, which is why we regularly carry out operations like this, protecting vulnerable people in our communities and making sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
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