Over £20K of illegal vapes and tobacco seized in Rochdale raids

Over £20,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco were seized and a man arrested in a major police raid in Rochdale.

Sniffer dogs unearthed the products as part of a joint operation between the Rochdale Tutor Unit and Trading Standards, leading to the seizure of £20,580 worth of illegal goods.

During the raids, officers uncovered hidden compartments within the premises, where illegal items were deliberately stored by staff. One of the stashes, concealed underneath a toilet, was located near Syke.

Authorities believe the money generated from the sales of these illegal products may be linked to wider criminal activities, such as money laundering, which has a detrimental effect on local communities across Greater Manchester.

In total, officers seized 1,055 packs of illicit cigarettes, amounting to approximately 21,100 cigarettes, with an estimated value of £12,660.

Additionally, 222 packs of hand-rolled tobacco worth £6,216 and 142 illegal vapes were also confiscated.

A 34-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of immigration offences. He has since been bailed, and investigations into the case continue in partnership with Trading Standards.

Inspector Taylor, of Rochdale’s Neighbourhood Policing Unit said: "This is an excellent example of partnership work conducted by the Rochdale Tutor Unit.

"Not only do student officers learn the importance of working together to achieve similar goals, but they have also tackled serious organised crime in their local area.

"It is likely that these seized items have not been through the rigorous checks required in UK legislation and therefore could have caused serious harm to users."

He also highlighted the broader significance of the raid in curbing criminal networks, which pose "significant threats to public security and local communities," adding that targeting such groups can help "reduce crime rates, protect vulnerable people and disrupt serious and organised crime."

Inspector Taylor expressed pride in the team’s achievements, stating, "I am extremely proud of the team and their hard work in securing these results through our excellent partnership working with Trading Standards."

Anyone with information regarding illegal activity can report it by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Reports can also be made via the police website or using the Live Chat tool.

For those wishing to remain anonymous, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.