Manchester Police Remove £1m of Illegal Vapes and Tobacco 2026

Key Points

• Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and its partners seized more than £1m worth of illicit goods during Operation Elswick.
• The haul included £275,000 of illegal cigarettes, £162,000 of illegal vapes, £160,000 of shisha and £97,000 of hand-rolling tobacco.
• Officers also recovered £211,000 worth of counterfeit goods, while GMP staff seized a further £126,000.
• Some cigarettes were concealed behind hydraulic false walls, ceilings and floors inside shops.
• Several shops have been referred to HMRC and could face fines of up to £10,000. Some premises are also subject to closure notices.
• Operation Elswick involved GMP’s district intelligence team, Trading Standards, Manchester City Council and WagTail.
• Detective Chief Inspector Chris Woodburn said the seizures would have a “massive impact” on illegal operations.
• Councillor Basat Sheikh praised the partnership between the agencies and said the operation had disrupted criminal networks.
• The public is being urged to report information about illicit sales to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Manchester Police (Manchester Mirror) August 24, 2026 – More than £1 million worth of illegal vapes, cigarettes and counterfeit goods have been taken off the streets of Manchester as part of a major operation targeting the illicit trade in tobacco and nicotine products.

As reported by a correspondent for the Express, the haul uncovered over the last 12 months under Operation Elswick included £275,000 of illegal cigarettes – many of which were hidden behind sophisticated hydraulic false walls, ceilings and floors in retail premises. In addition, officers recovered £162,000 of illegal vapes, £160,000 of shisha, £97,000 of hand-rolling tobacco, £211,000 of other counterfeit goods, and £126,000 seized directly by GMP staff.

Greater uk/police/">Manchester Police said the raids have been conducted to tackle the growing sale of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes and counterfeit products across the city. The operation was launched after intelligence highlighted a persistent and escalating problem across the City of Manchester, prompting a coordinated response between police, trading standards and local authority partners.

How did Operation Elswick target illicit trade in Manchester?

Operation Elswick was a coordinated response between Greater Manchester Police’s district intelligence team, Trading Standards, Manchester City Council and WagTail, with referrals also made to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to ensure a joined-up approach aimed at long-term disruption of criminal activity.

According to reporting by the Express, the multi-agency approach has led to several shops being referred to HMRC, where they face potential fines of up to £10,000, and several premises are now subject to closure notices following repeat offending. The operation sought to dismantle the supply chains and retail outlets profiting from the sale of illicit, substandard and potentially dangerous goods.

City of Manchester Detective Chief Inspector Chris Woodburn said: “This has been an integrated operation to tackle illicit vapes and cigarettes.” “Seizures have now totalled over £1m, which we know will have a massive impact on illegal operations in the area and sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this.”

“Our work in this area will continue as we are committed to tackling the issue of illegal vapes and cigarettes which fund wider crime and harm public health,” DCI Woodburn added. He encouraged the public to pass on any information relating to sales to CrimeStoppers, which can be done anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

What did Manchester City Council say about the seizure?

Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods for Manchester City Council, said: “From the outset, Operation Elswick has shown precisely what can be achieved through strong partnership working between Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police.”

“We have made significant strides in disrupting criminal networks that profit from selling illicit, substandard, and potentially dangerous goods across our communities,” Cllr Sheikh said. “Seizing over £1m worth of illegal products is a major milestone and a testament to the dedication of officers from both organisations.”

“We will continue this relentless work to protect our residents, support legitimate local businesses, and keep Manchester safe,” he added.

Why are illegal vapes and cigarettes a concern for public health?

Illegal tobacco and vape products are often sold without compliance with UK safety, labelling and age-restriction regulations, raising concerns about public health and youth access. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Andy Burnham’s government is set to introduce major vape law changes from October, including criminalising the sale of any vape products to anyone under 18 years of age, in a bid to diminish the allure of vaping for young individuals in the UK.

The presence of illicit goods in local shops also undermines legitimate businesses that comply with regulations and pay taxes, while the profits from illegal trade can fund wider criminal activity. DCI Woodburn noted that illegal vapes and cigarettes “fund wider crime and harm public health”, underlining the dual public safety and health rationale for the crackdown.

What other enforcement action has taken place in Greater Manchester?

The latest seizure forms part of a broader pattern of enforcement action across Greater Manchester targeting illicit trade and underage sales. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Greater Manchester Police opposed a new licence for the Express Mini Market in Bury, citing years of confiscations including vapes, 6,100 cigarettes, 1.65 kilograms of HRT and unsafe toys. In November 2025, the council revoked the alcohol licence of the Express Mini Market, citing reasons including crime prevention, public safety, mitigating public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

In a separate case reported by the Manchester Evening News, the Chapel Stop’n’Shop on School Lane in Heaton Chapel was scrutinised by GMP as part of an initiative aimed at combating illegal sales to minors. Police licensing officer Jamie Ellison reported that a test purchase was executed at the store on 16 June following intelligence indicating the sale of banned products and underage transactions. Further investigations revealed 250 packets of illegal cigarettes hidden in a car’s trunk, alongside other concerns including inadequate staff training and an unidentified male who might have supplied the illegal tobacco products to the shop.

In Strangeways, officers seized around £100,000 worth of fake and poor-quality toys from shops on the high street on 5 August, acting on intelligence over suspected counterfeit goods. Meanwhile, Bolton Council and its partners secured closure orders against two shops on Derby Street, Bolton, after evidence showed they had been involved in the large-scale sale of illicit cigarettes, illegal vapes, narcotics and nitrous oxide, with links to organised crime groups.

Background to the development

Operation Elswick was established in response to intelligence indicating a persistent and escalating problem with the sale of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes and counterfeit products across the City of Manchester. The operation brought together GMP’s district intelligence team, Trading Standards, Manchester City Council and WagTail, with referrals to HMRC to enable a comprehensive enforcement and regulatory response.

The seizure of more than £1m in illicit goods marks a significant milestone in the campaign against illegal trade in the region. Authorities have highlighted the use of sophisticated concealment methods, including hydraulic false walls, ceilings and floors, to hide illegal cigarettes in retail premises. Several shops have been referred to HMRC and face potential fines of up to £10,000, while repeat offenders have been served with closure notices.

Prediction: How this development can affect retailers and consumers in Manchester

The seizure of over £1m in illicit goods and the referral of multiple shops to HMRC is likely to increase compliance costs and regulatory scrutiny for retailers in Manchester, particularly those selling tobacco, vapes and related products. Shops with a history of selling illicit goods may face licence reviews, closure notices or substantial fines, which could reduce the number of outlets willing or able to stock non-compliant products.

For consumers, the crackdown may reduce the availability of cheap, illegal vapes and cigarettes, potentially pushing some buyers towards legitimate retailers that comply with age restrictions and safety standards. However, if demand for low-cost nicotine products remains high, there is a risk that illicit supply chains could adapt, requiring continued enforcement and public awareness efforts. In the longer term, the combination of enforcement action and upcoming legislative changes on vape sales to under-18s could reshape the local market, with greater emphasis on compliance, traceability and public health safeguards.