Overview

• Over 265 premises, including barbershops, nail salons, and vape shops, were raided in a three-week operation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
• Authorities made 35 arrests and safeguarded 97 individuals suspected of being victims of modern slavery.
• Bank accounts holding over £1 million were frozen, with additional seizures of £40,000 in cash, 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and over 8,000 illegal vapes.
• Two cannabis farms with a total of 150 plants were uncovered, and 10 shops have been shut down, with further closures expected.
• The operation involved 19 police forces and multiple national agencies, highlighting a coordinated effort to dismantle high street crime networks and disrupt organized criminal activities.