Overview
- The month-long second stage of Operation Machinize in October saw 2,734 premises visited nationwide in a multi-agency effort involving every UK police force, HMRC, trading standards and immigration enforcement.
- Authorities seized more than £10.7 million in suspected criminal proceeds alongside 4.5 million illegal cigarettes, 622 kg of illegal tobacco, over 110,000 illegal vapes and 70 kg of cannabis, with large volumes of counterfeit electronics removed.
- More than 450 companies were referred to Companies House for further investigation, and about £2.7 million of illicit goods were destroyed during the operation.
- Targets included barbers, minimarts, vape outlets, nail bars, car washes, takeaways, phone shops and sweet shops that officials say are exploited as hubs for money laundering, tax evasion and broader organised crime.
- Police and MPs report repeat offending and rapid shop reopenings after raids, with the NCA working with government on longer-term measures to counter ‘phoenixing’ and protect legitimate high-street businesses.