Leicestershire Police discovered more than £64,000 worth of counterfeit goods inside a Leicester city centre business. The force visited 15 sites across as part of a national crackdown on criminality through high street businesses.
A total of £89,265 worth of counterfeit and illicit items were recovered by police across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Approximately £6,500 worth was non-duty paid Shisha tobacco which officers said had likely been smuggled into the UK with the business owner "benefitting".
In the information shared last Friday (November 14), Leicestershire Police said £64,335 worth of items including counterfeit clothing, illegal cigarettes and vapes were discovered at one business in the city. A spokesperson for the force said: "Leicestershire Police visited 15 sites across the force area with partners including Trading Standards, HMRC, Immigration enforcement and DWP.
"A total of £89,265 of counterfeit or other illicit property and £6,500 of non-duty paid Shisha tobacco was recovered. £64,335 worth of counterfeit property including counterfeit clothing, illicit cigarettes and vapes were found at one business in Leicester city."
It was noted that no arrests were made. On November 11, Leicestershire Police said that the visits were undertaken as part of a national crackdown on money laundering and other types of criminality through cash-intensive high street businesses.
Paul Wenlock from the force's Economic Crime Unit, said: "A huge effort has gone into this national campaign, involving forces from across the country and several other partner agencies.
"The aim was to identify and disrupt illegal activity and focus on cash intensive businesses who were flouting the law. Many of the businesses visited during the enforcement activity in our area led us to recover counterfeit clothing and toys including a quantity of tobacco which had been imported illegally."
People with concerns about criminal activity or businesses predominately accepting cash only transactions are urged to either report such behaviour to the NCA, or to contact HMRC