Raids on local shops net £22k of illegal goods

Illegal goods worth £22,500 were sniffed out in a multi-agency day of action involving shops across the borough.

Bury Council staff were joined by partners from GMP, Immigration and the HMRC in visiting off-licences, mini-marts, newsagents and hardware stores in Bury town centre, Ramsbottom and Radcliffe.

They were assisted by tobacco detection dog Dora, from the Wagtail company, in finding concealed illicit goods.

They seized 888 packets of cigarettes, 108 pouches of tobacco, 200 vapes, counterfeit headphones, air pods and labubu dolls, with a total street value of £22,500.

The raids were part of Operation Machinize, the ongoing NCA-coordinated operation to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “This latest operation shows that we will take action against retailers who break the law and sell illegal tobacco and counterfeit goods.

“I would also urge residents not to buy these products. It’s unfair on law-abiding traders, and these ‘cheap’ purchases actually cause harm to the local community by bringing in crime.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 27 October 2025.