Oldham Illegal Tobacco Raid: £39,000 Cigarettes Seized 2026

Key Points

• Over £39,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco have been confiscated from businesses in Oldham.
• This raid was conducted jointly by Oldham Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police.
• It was a part of Operation Machinize, an initiative that is coordinated by the National Crime Agency.
• Operation Machinize aims to combat money laundering and criminal exploitation of high street businesses with significant cash flows.
• According to Oldham Trading Standards, the problem with illegal tobacco affects communities, funds organized crime, and unfairly treats local businesses that are following regulations.
• The residents are asked to contact police about the sale of abnormally cheap cigarettes because they might be counterfeit or smuggled.
• This information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers (telephone 0800 555 111) or keep-it-out.co.uk.
• No business organizations, persons, quantity of goods, or enforcement action were specified in the given news reports.

Oldham (Manchester Mirror) October 17, 2026 – Nearly £39,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco has been seized from businesses across Oldham during a joint enforcement operation targeting illicit trade and suspected criminal use of high-street premises.

As reported by The Oldham Times, officers from Oldham Trading Standards worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to visit businesses in the borough as part of Operation Machinize. The seizure involved illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco with an estimated value of nearly £39,000.

What Was Seized In Oldham?

The operation resulted in the removal of illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco valued at nearly £39,000. The reports did not specify the number of cigarette packets, the weight of tobacco, the businesses involved or the precise locations of the seizures.

The Oldham Times reported that the action was part of Operation Machinize, which is coordinated by the National Crime Agency. The initiative is designed to address money laundering and the alleged criminal use of high-street businesses that handle high volumes of cash.

Why Were Oldham Businesses Visited?

Oldham Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police visited businesses in the borough under Operation Machinize. The national operation brings together enforcement bodies to investigate organised criminal activity linked to cash-intensive businesses.

The National Crime Agency says Operation Machinize 2 ran throughout October and involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, along with Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House.

According to the National Crime Agency, the wider operation included the removal of 4.5 million illegal cigarettes and 622kg of illegal tobacco, which it said equated to £3.4m in evaded duty taxes.

What Did Oldham Trading Standards Say?

A spokesperson for Oldham Trading Standards said illegal tobacco damages communities, supports organised crime and places honest local businesses at a significant disadvantage.

“This successful operation highlights the value of partnership working between Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police in identifying and disrupting criminal activity,”

the spokesperson said, as reported by The Oldham Times.

The spokesperson added:

“We will continue to work together to protect residents, support compliant businesses and ensure those breaking the law are held accountable.”

How Can Residents Report Illegal Tobacco?

Oldham Trading Standards has urged members of the public to report anyone selling cheap cigarettes, saying such products are likely to be fake or smuggled.

Residents can report concerns anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through the keep-it-out.co.uk website.

What Are The Rules On Illicit Tobacco?

Under GOV.UK guidance, Trading Standards investigate unfair trading and illegal business activities, including the detection and removal of tobacco products that should not be available for sale.

The guidance states that authorities can seize and potentially destroy illicit tobacco products. Financial penalties can reach £10,000 where 500 or more packs are held, while HMRC may also consider temporary or permanent deactivation of an economic operator ID for repeat offences.

The government’s illicit tobacco strategy says Operation CeCe, which brings together local authorities, law enforcement and National Trading Standards, has disrupted the market and prevented fraud by targeting illegal tobacco at retail level.

Has Oldham Faced Similar Seizures Before?

Oldham has previously seen enforcement action against illicit tobacco and vapes. In 2024, Oldham Council said its Trading Standards department, working with HM Revenue and Customs and Greater Manchester Police, seized illegal vapes and tobacco worth £50,000.

The BBC reported that detection dogs Skye and Louie helped uncover more than 78,000 illegal cigarettes, 11kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 2,578 counterfeit disposable vapes during a two-day operation at nine retail locations in Oldham.

In 2023, Oldham Council reported that Trading Standards had seized almost £100,000 worth of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco in five months, including around 6,500 vapes, 19,000 cigarettes and 9.55kg of hand-rolling tobacco.

Background Of The Development

Operation Machinize is a National Crime Agency-coordinated programme aimed at tackling money laundering and organised criminal activity connected to high-street businesses with high cash turnover. The Oldham action formed part of that wider approach, with local Trading Standards officers and Greater Manchester Police carrying out visits to borough businesses.

The seizure follows a broader national crackdown. The National Crime Agency said Operation Machinize 2 involved cooperation between police forces, Regional Organised Crime Units, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House.

Illegal tobacco enforcement in Greater Manchester has also included court-led premises closures. Rochdale Borough Council reported that a shop on Oldham Road was closed for three months after evidence of illicit tobacco trading, with more than 1,500 packs of cigarettes and more than 3kg of tobacco seized.

Prediction: What This Means For Oldham Residents And Businesses

For Oldham residents, the seizure may lead to greater scrutiny of shops suspected of selling cheap or unbranded cigarettes. Residents who report suspicious sales may see continued joint action by Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police, particularly where products appear fake, smuggled or sold without required tax markings.

For compliant local retailers, the operation signals continued enforcement pressure on the illicit tobacco market. Oldham Trading Standards has framed such action as protection for businesses that follow the law, because illegal sales can undercut legitimate shops and reduce their ability to compete.

For businesses in Oldham, the development suggests that cash-intensive premises may remain a focus of Operation Machinize-related checks. Businesses should expect authorities to continue partnership working between Trading Standards, police and national bodies, with potential consequences including seizure of stock, financial penalties and further enforcement action where breaches are identified.