Essex Police targets organised crime in sweep across county

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 14:01 · Archive

Essex Police seized £10,360 cash and thousands of illicit cigarettes during Operation Machinize, targeting money laundering across more than 100 premises.

Essex Police has seized £10,360 in cash and thousands of illicit cigarettes during a major crackdown on organised crime across the county. More than 100 premises across every district were visited as part of Operation Machinize, a National Crime Agency-coordinated operation targeting money laundering and the criminal use of cash-intensive businesses.

Enforcement agencies recovered almost 10,000 illicit cigarettes valued at around £5,540, 1kg of illicit tobacco worth £575 and nine illicit vapes. The operation was delivered locally by Essex Police alongside Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs, the Home Office, Border Force and the Fair Work Agency.

Police said businesses appearing legitimate on the surface can be used to facilitate serious criminality, including labour exploitation and modern slavery. Detective Chief Inspector Terry Balding said money laundering and labour exploitation must be tackled to keep people safe, and that communities suffer through exposure to unsafe products whilst honest businesses face unfair competition from criminal networks.

Essex Police targets organised crime in sweep across county — Image: Colchester Gazette

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How it is being reported

Huge organised crime crackdown sees more than 100 Essex premises targetedEssex Police seize £10,360 cash, illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes in Operation Machinize, a crackdown on money laundering and organised crime across Essex.Colchester Gazette · 9 Nov, 13:25
Huge organised crime crackdown sees more than 100 Essex premises targetedEssex Police seize £10,360 cash, illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes in Operation Machinize, a crackdown on money laundering and organised crime across Essex.Echo (Basildon) · 9 Nov, 13:25
Huge organised crime crackdown sees more than 100 Essex premises targetedEssex Police seize £10,360 cash, illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes in Operation Machinize, a crackdown on money laundering and organised crime across Essex.Brentwood Guardian · 9 Nov, 13:25

In this story: Essex Police · National Crime Agency · Essex · Terry Balding

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