Operation Avro delivers major results in Bury crackdown on illicit tobacco, vapes and unsafe practices

Bury Council has taken part in a major enforcement operation across the borough as part of Operation Avro, taking action against the illicit tobacco and vape trade and helping to protect local communities.

The operation, carried out yesterday (16 April), brought together the council’s trading standards team, Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Home Office partners, and specialist Wagtail detection dogs, in a coordinated, intelligence‑led approach to tackling criminality and safeguarding public health.

During the day of action, officers visited seven premises across Bury and seized significant quantities of illegal goods, including:

• 627 packets of illicit cigarettes (12,540 sticks)
• 95 pouches of hand‑rolling tobacco (4.75kg)
• 232 illicit vapes
• 6 packets of shisha

The estimated street value of the seized items is approximately £15,000.

Officers uncovered a variety of sophisticated concealment methods, with illegal products hidden behind walls, within pipework, inside doors, bespoke drawers, and even disguised within everyday items such as drinks cartons. These methods highlight the organised and deliberate nature of the illicit trade.

The deployment of specialist Wagtail detection dogs proved critical to the success of the operation, enabling officers to locate hidden stock that would otherwise have been extremely difficult to detect.

Licensing officers also carried out 16 roadside compliance checks on licensed vehicles, with additional checks by environmental crime officers for commercial waste-carrying vehicles.

Operation AVRO, led by GMP and delivered across Greater Manchester, focuses on disrupting crime, improving visibility, and providing reassurance to local communities.

Tackling the illicit tobacco and vape trade plays a vital role in protecting young people, reducing health harms, supporting legitimate local businesses, and disrupting criminal networks often linked to wider organised crime. Follow‑up investigations into the seized items will now be carried out by the council, using shared intelligence from a national database.

A spokesperson for Bury Council said: “Operation Avro demonstrates the strength of partnership working in Bury and our shared determination to take robust action against those who undermine our communities. The scale of the seizures and the sophistication of the concealment methods show why this work is so important.

“We would like to thank all the officers and partners involved for their professionalism, determination and commitment throughout a very busy and complex day of enforcement.”

Bury Council will continue to work closely with Greater Manchester Police and regional partners to disrupt criminal activity, protect residents, and keep communities safe.

ENDS

Press release issued: 17 April 2026.

Picture: Illegal cigarettes hidden inside a drinks carton.