Illegal cigarettes found in microwave and arrest made as Heywood officers tackle illicit goods during Safer Business Week

Illegal cigarettes were found concealed in a microwave at a business in Heywood as officers and the wider Partnership Enforcement Team raided a store as part of Safer Business Week.

The find on Monday (16 October) was coupled with the separate arrest of a man on suspicion of immigration offences, as Heywood officers clamped down on those suspected of being related to the supply of illegal goods.

The teams visited a business in Bridge Street – finding vapes not conforming to the UK’s standards – and illegal cigarettes.

The cigarettes were found inside a microwave, which had been stripped back before being reassembled with the cigarette packets stashed within.

The trading standards offences will subsequently be assessed, with enquiries currently ongoing.

Meanwhile, a van was searched and subsequently seized - with its driver arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, with an offensive weapon further being found during the search.

Immigration authorities will subsequently assess the situation and determine the appropriate outcome.

Safer Business Week, which is currently ongoing, is designed to ensure safer practices for both workers and customers.

The Partnership Enforcement Team consists of police, housing enforcement, trading standards, and counter fraud teams, who work in unison to tackle complex crime that affects Heywood and the wider area.

This includes the distribution of illegal tobacco by organised crime, business fraud, modern-day slavery, and other criminal offences.

Sergeant Matthew Honey, from GMP’s Heywood Neighbourhood Team, said: “Our ongoing work in Heywood helps us change what our town centre looks like. We don’t want stores selling illegal goods, profiting from criminality, and exploiting vulnerable people to be a feature of our town.

“This multi-agency approach has seen us visit several stores, seize thousands of pounds worth of goods, and ensure that businesses are adhering to strict regulations which ultimately protect the public from harm.

“As part of Safer Business Action Week, this further raid has seen us turn up a quantity of cigarettes and illegal vapes, which were subsequently seized, as well as building a wider intelligence picture on the sort of practices that businesses can undertake as they engage in illegal behaviour.

“In addition to the ongoing work, we will be patrolling Heywood’s streets, engaging with customers, and ensuring that we spread the simple message that we will not tolerate criminality in this area.”