A three-week police crackdown has uncovered nearly £280,000 worth of illegal goods across Cambridgeshire, including counterfeit vapes, alcohol, and cigarettes.
The joint operation, led by Cambridgeshire Police in partnership with local authorities, saw officers visit 36 businesses in Peterborough and Whittlesey during October. These cash-based premises included convenience stores, barber shops, and hand car washes identified as potential hotspots for criminal activity.
During the raids, police seized more than 8,000 suspected illegal vapes and 8,500 bottles of alcohol from unlicensed venues. A further 280,000 cigarettes and 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of hand-rolled tobacco were confiscated. The estimated total value of goods recovered stands at almost £280,000.
Detective Inspector Shish Thind said the results sent “a clear message that we will not tolerate criminal activity hiding behind cash-rich businesses.”
The operation, part of Operation Machinize 2 — a nationwide National Crime Agency (NCA) initiative — also investigated possible links to money laundering, modern slavery, and drug supply. The NCA said the wider action across the UK had led to £10.7 million in criminal proceeds being seized.
As part of the Cambridgeshire crackdown, six drug-related arrests were made, and police confirmed that investigations remain ongoing. Closure orders are also being pursued for 11 shops found to be selling illegal goods.
Christian Hogg, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for housing and regulatory services, praised the operation and urged residents to help root out illicit trade. “We would encourage anyone who has any knowledge of suspected illegal alcohol and tobacco sales to report it to Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Trading Standards – reports can be made anonymously,” he said.
The campaign reflects a broader effort to clamp down on cash-intensive high street businesses being used for criminal purposes, as well as to protect consumers from unregulated and potentially dangerous products.
