Halton Trading Standards took part in Operation Azalea, a proactive operation led by Cheshire Police Runcorn Beat Teams with support from community partners, which led to the seizure of  £65,000 worth of cannabis.

On Monday 23 February, police officers from Runcorn Local Policing Unit’s Beat Team and the force’s Immigration and Foreign National Offender Teams, with support from colleagues at Halton Borough Council Trading Standards, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, HMRC, and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, launched a coordinated strike on retailers suspected of selling illegal vapes and cigarettes across Runcorn.

The teams also focused on targeting those committing immigration offences through the exploitation of vulnerable people in modern-day slavery.

Following an 8am briefing from the local Beat Team at Runcorn Police Station, officers and partners rolled out across the town and visited three premises.

A quantity of illicit vapes and cash was seized across the three addresses, and a 42‑year‑old man was arrested by immigration teams on suspicion of illegal working. He has since been released on bail.

Along with searches of the retailers, officers also conducted a number of storage‑unit searches within the town, uncovering six large vacuum‑packed bags with an estimated street value of approximately £65,000.

Also seized from the units was a crossbow and approximately £10,000 in cash.

Following the discovery, a 22‑year‑old local man has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

Alongside this proactive work, during high‑visibility and plain‑clothed patrols across the town, officers engaged with members of the public regarding ongoing issues in their areas and conducted a number of school visits to provide safeguarding advice, particularly around the use of ketamine among young people.

Runcorn Neighbourhood Beat Sergeant Lawrence Winstanley said:

“Be under no illusion, the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes is a very serious crime. These products have been smuggled into the UK by organised criminals looking to make quick money, which in turn affects our local law‑abiding retailers, who follow the rules but cannot compete with the artificially low prices of illegal sellers.

“Not only this, but as these products are not properly regulated, no one knows for certain what they contain. We have found that illegally manufactured and imported products contain unknown, potentially harmful chemicals that can seriously damage the health of consumers.

“Those involved in illicit activities also often have links to trafficking, organised immigration crime, and modern slavery, which is why we are committed to running regular operations such as this, alongside our local community partners, to identify those involved.

“I hope that the results from today’s operation across Runcorn act both as reassurance to the community that we are doing all we can to tackle illegal activity, and as a warning to those involved to seriously consider their actions.”

Cllr Andrea Wall, Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board member for Community Safety, added:

“This latest operation in Runcorn continues the Council’s ongoing work with the police and partner agencies, such as the HMRC, to protect the community from the impact of illegal tobacco and vapes.

“Since 2023 the Council has seized over £400,000 worth of illegal tobacco and £70,000 of illegal vapes. The Council’s Trading Standards team has already secured closure orders against two premises in Runcorn and four premises in Widnes involved in the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products.

“Monday’s operation builds upon that work and will continue to reinforce the message that illegal tobacco and vapes have no place on the high street in Halton. We will continue to take a tough stance to protect our community from the harm, which impacts genuine local businesses, and the health of our community. The continued efforts of the team are paying off in Runcorn – this is something we have focused on for some time, and yesterday’s operation was business as usual for the team.”

Anyone with concerns about organised immigration crime can contact Cheshire Police via 101 or visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/ and speak with a member of their local PVP Exploitation Team.