Illicit cigarettes found under fake shop floors

Thousands of illicit cigarettes have been seized in Derby after they were found hidden in shops under fake floors and in secret drawers, police have said.

Derbyshire Police said more than 10,000 cigarettes, 1.7kg (3.74lb) of hand-rolling tobacco and fake Labubu dolls were recovered from nine shops to the west of the city, which includes the areas of Normanton, Mickleover and Rose Hill.

Police and trading standards officers made enforcement visits as part of a wider crackdown, codenamed Operation Machinize.

It was coordinated by the National Crime Agency to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses, police added.

Insp Dan Handley-Farrell, the force's licensing inspector, said: "During this operation, we found cigarettes hidden under fake floors, or in secret drawers, showing the lengths that some people will go to in order to hide their illegal activities.

"Selling illicit cigarettes is not only illegal but can pose a further significant threat to the people who buy them.

"Operations such as this are therefore important to help keep our communities safe."

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