Three warrants executed as part of national crackdown on money laundering

More than £30,000 of illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vapes were seized following the execution of search warrants at three Northampton shops as part of an ongoing multi-agency crackdown into organised crime.       

Officers and police staff from the Force were joined by partners from West Northamptonshire Council Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as Border Force for the three-day operation. 

The search warrants were executed at three shops in Spencer Bridge Road, Harlestone Road and Kettering Road, in support of the Operation Machinize - the National Crime Agency’s coordinated response to criminal exploitation of the high street. 

The operation targets organised crime groups who use our local communities to raise funds for their criminal activities in plain sight, and focuses on money laundering, the criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses, and immigration crime.

The first warrant was executed at Central Food & Wine in Spencer Bridge Road on Tuesday, October 21, where officers and partners seized more than £900 in cash along with counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco. 

A total of 943 packets of cigarettes and 37 packets of tobacco were seized from the premises as well as three white vans associated to the business parked nearby, worth a respective £15,088 and £1,480 if sold at retail price. 

On Wednesday, October 22, the second warrant was executed at DIY Local Shop in Harlestone Road, where £3,765 in cash was seized along with 624 packets of cigarettes, 96 packets of tobacco and 99 vapes. These had a retail value of £9,984, £3,960 and £495 respectively.

Ja Ja Grocery Store in Kettering Road was the target of the third, and final warrant, which was executed on Thursday, October 23. At this location a further 53 packets of cigarettes and one packet of tobacco was seized, which had a combined retail value of nearly £900.

No arrests or immigration offences were identified.

In the below video, Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Tuff, head of the CID West team, explains the importance of Operation Machinize. 

View the video here