A Machete Removed from the Streets of Greater Manchester

In March, police conducted raids on barbers, vape shops, and mini-markets throughout Greater Manchester as part of a national operation targeting high street crime and money laundering.

Named Operation Machinize, the three-week initiative aimed to dismantle cash-intensive businesses that are often used by criminal gangs to hide the proceeds of crime and combat modern slavery, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that the operation yielded significant results, including the seizure of drugs, illegal vapes and cigarettes, cash, counterfeit goods, and a machete. A total of 14 arrests were made, and four vulnerable individuals were identified and safeguarded during this effort.

Specific locations were not disclosed, but the raids included various barbershops, vape shops, and mini-marts. The NCA highlighted that this national operation also targeted nail salons, car washes, and themed sweet shops.

Nationwide, the crackdown resulted in 35 arrests, with 97 individuals suspected of being victims of modern slavery placed under police protection. Rachael Herbert, deputy director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, stated, "We know cash-intensive businesses are used as fronts for money laundering, facilitating some of the highest harm and highest impact offending in the UK."

The operation commenced in early March, leading to the recovery of 150 cannabis plants and three arrests. The following day, a search warrant executed in Hyde resulted in three individuals being arrested for possession with intent to supply class C drugs and immigration offenses.

GMP reported a total of 139 premises were visited, which included six police warrants and 13 agency warrants. Fourteen individuals were detained for suspected immigration offenses, and seven closure orders were issued. The operation also covered areas in Rochdale and Middleton.

A GMP spokesperson noted: "During the warrants and searches, we seized 150 cannabis plants; over £40,000 worth of illegal vapes; 10,895 illicit cigarettes; £1,000 in cash; 348 counterfeit goods; and a machete. HM Revenue and Customs recorded 27 tax evasion offenses, 38 trading standards offenses, and 22 health and safety breaches, leading to £60,000 in fines for two premises."

Detective Inspector Melanie Johnson, who led the GMP operation, stated: "This was the first time law enforcement agencies have run a specific intensification on this scale, targeting this area of criminality while collaborating with partner agencies. I am proud to say this was an extremely successful operation."

She added, "We have seen excellent teamwork across all districts, ensuring the removal of large quantities of harmful substances, including drugs, illegal vapes, illicit cigarettes, and a dangerous weapon from Greater Manchester streets. Our efforts will continue as we aim to disrupt organized criminality while keeping our communities safe."

During this nationwide operation involving 19 different police forces and regional organized crime units, officers obtained freezing orders over bank accounts totaling more than £1 million.

Additionally, over £40,000 in cash, approximately 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and more than 8,000 illegal vapes were seized by the NCA, which estimates that £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK annually.

The NCA commented, "Cash-intensive businesses are often used by criminals to conceal the origins of illicit cash, allowing crime gangs to integrate criminal profits into the financial system, thus complicating law enforcement investigations."