Lancashire Police Seize £200K Worth of Illegal Cigarettes and Vapes, Six Arrested

Oct.29

Lancashire Police seized nearly £200,000 worth of illicit cigarettes and vapes, arrested six suspects, and closed three shops under Operation Wanderstar. Raids on 22 premises across the county also uncovered counterfeit cash, hidden tobacco stashes, and frozen bank accounts linked to suspected money laundering.

Key Highlights

Operation Wanderstar: countywide crackdown on illicit cigarettes and vapes.
22 shops raided; goods worth £200K seized.
6 arrests for fraud, immigration, and weapon offences.
3 shops closed, bank accounts frozen (£300K total).
Part of NCA’s Operation Machinize anti–money laundering drive.

2Firsts, October 29, 2025 — According to Lancashire Police, officers have seized almost £200,000 worth of illicit cigarettes and vapes, arrested six people, and temporarily closed three stores during coordinated raids across the county as part of Operation Wanderstar.

Over the past several weeks, officers searched 22 business premises in Nelson, Blackburn, Oswaldtwistle, Lancaster, Morecambe, and Preston, working alongside Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement, and the Economic Crime Unit (ECU).

Findings included counterfeit cash, hidden tobacco compartments, and a machete recovered from one Nelson shop.

At The American Sweet Shop in Nelson, police seized £120,000 in illegal tobacco and cigarettes.

At 7 Days Blackburn Ltd, officers found 14,000 counterfeit cigarette packets and 3kg of tobacco.

At Preston Saver and Ezee Shop in Preston, £18,000 in illicit products were seized.

Two bank accounts — one with £300,000, another with £14,000 — were frozen pending investigation.

Detective Inspector Libby Wadsworth of the ECU said the crackdown targets “businesses profiting illegally at the expense of public safety.”

Councillor Joshua Roberts of Lancashire County Council said: “This sends a strong message that we will continue to take robust enforcement action against traders breaking the law.”

Operation Wanderstar is part of the National Crime Agency’s Operation Machinize, aimed at tackling cash-based money laundering and illicit trade.

Image source: Lancashire Police

References:

[1] Illegal vapes and cigarettes worth £200k seized across Lancashire in major police crackdown

Also Read:

[1] UK Advocacy Groups Launch "20IsPlenty" Campaign for Nicotine Pouch Strength Limit of 20mg

[2] 62.5% of Vapers Still Use Disposables; 82% for Ages 25–34, Survey Finds

[3] Hounslow Crackdown Seizes £33,000 of Illegal Vapes and Combustible Cigarettes

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Melaka Cracks Down on Unlicensed Vape Retailers with Fines and Seizures

Melaka’s local authorities are intensifying enforcement against unlicensed e-cigarette retailers by issuing notices, imposing fines, and seizing illegal products. State executive councillor Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said only premises meeting the required conditions will be granted trading licences under the Licensing of Trades (Local Authorities) By-Laws 2010.

Dec.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai

JT launches half-price Ploom AURA promotion across online and offline channels

Japan Tobacco (JT) has announced a limited-time promotion on selected standard colors of its heated tobacco device Ploom AURA, running from 8 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. During the campaign, the starter kit price will be cut from 2,980 yen (approximately US$19.20) to 1,480 yen (around US$9.53).

Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai

California DOJ Outlines Next Steps for Unflavored Tobacco List; Enforcement to Target “Obviously Flavored” Products

The California DOJ issued Information Bulletin No. 2025-DLE-17 on November 10, 2025, providing an update on the state’s flavored tobacco enforcement. The Attorney General’s office is set to launch the Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) by December 31, 2025, identifying tobacco products without characterizing flavors that may legally be sold in California. Enforcement will continue to focus on “obviously flavored” products, while unregistered products remain subject to seizure and penalties.

Nov.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Coral Springs, Florida Moves to Extend Ban on New Vape Shops as Number of Existing Stores Reaches 23

Coral Springs, Florida is considering extending its six-month moratorium on new smoke and vape shops as it works to finalize zoning rules and regulatory measures in response to a rapid increase in such retailers in recent years. The city is already home to 23 smoke and vape shops.