National Crackdown On Business Crime Hailed A Success

Greater Manchester Police and partners made more than 130 visits to business premises as part of the first ever large-scale national intensification crackdown on crime.

The three-week-long action, dubbed Operation Machinize, began with three warrants on March 3, which resulted in the recovery of 150 cannabis plants, the arrest of three individuals, and the detention of two individuals by Immigration Enforcement.   

On its second day (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) officers from the Hyde Godley Neighbourhood Policing Team in Tameside, along with TMBC Trading Standards, Environmental Services and Immigration officers, conducted a warrant at a business premises in the town centre.  

As a result, three people were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class C drugs and immigration offences.   

The action continued until March 21, with visits to 139 premises, which included six police warrants and 13 partner agency warrants.   

This proactive operation resulted in 14 arrests, 14 voluntary interview attendances booked, 14 Immigration Enforcement detainees, four individuals safeguarded, disruption to 60 incidences of Organised Immigration Crime (OIC), and seven closure orders served alongside the seizure of a vast amount of criminal / illegal commodity.   

Op Machinize was launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) with funding from the Home Office to deal with issues including (OIC), money laundering, drugs supply and the selling of illegal tobacco products and vapes.   

GMP said vulnerable people are often exploited through these types of criminality and the proceeds of crime are often used to fund further criminal activities.   

Illegal vapes tend to contain either a nicotine strength level exceeding the 2 per cent legal limit, or they have a tank capacity exceeding the maximum 2ml limit, and may also contain illegal, potentially harmful chemicals.  

Many of these vapes are marketed in brightly coloured packaging with fruity and sweet flavours, which can be more attractive to children and young people.   

Some of the food and drink products imported and sold over the counter in the premises targeted did not comply with EU and UK food standards and could also put consumers at risk.   

The business types visited by police included barbershops, vape shops and mini marts believed to be involved in modern day slavery, OIC, and money laundering amongst other criminalities.   

Attending partners included Councils, Licensing, Trading Standards, Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE), His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Environmental Health, and Housing Standards, alongside GMP’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs).   

During some of the warrants and searches, the team seized 150 cannabis plants, over £40,000 worth of illegal vapes, a total of 10,895 illicit cigarettes, £1000 in cash, 348 counterfeit goods, and one machete.   

HMRC recorded 27 tax evasion offences, there were 38 trading standards offences and 22 health and safety breaches, seven business premises were served closure orders, and two premises received £60,000 fines.   

For this operation alone, officers received 97 intelligence submissions furthering Greater Manchester Police’s understanding of criminality within these types of businesses.   

Detective Inspector Melanie Johnson, who lead and coordinated the Operation for Greater Manchester Police, said: “This was the first time Law Enforcement Agencies have ran a specific intensification on this scale, targeting this area of criminality and working alongside our partner agencies, and I am proud to say this was an extremely successful operation.   

“We have seen some excellent work carried out across all districts by our officers alongside partners and I am confident we shall continue focusing our efforts on disrupting these criminals.    

“We have removed large quantities of harmful substances; drugs, illegal vapes, illicit cigarettes, and a dangerous weapon from the streets of Greater Manchester, as well as safeguarding four vulnerable people from being further exploited.   

“Our work does not stop here; we will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in this organised criminality and seek to ensure that our communities are safe and high streets full of businesses not involved in criminality.   

“Intelligence submitted to us from concerned members of the public is vital to our investigations and I’d like to thank those who came forward and shared intelligence with us.   

“We take any information we receive seriously, so please continue to provide Greater Manchester Police with information and we will continue to investigate all aspects of this criminality.”   

If you suspect that a business is involved in any illegal activities you can report them to Trading Standards at Consumer Help and Advice | Chartered Trading Standards Institute UK   

If you are concerned about criminal activity within your area, you can report this to police directly on 101 or by reporting information at www.gmp.police.uk