Closure orders are being sought for two Chester shops after thousands of illegal cigarettes were seized during a multi-agency operation targeting organised immigration crime.

On Thursday 14 May, four stores in Chester and Neston were targeted as part of Operation Accommodate, all of which were suspected of being linked to organised immigration crime.

Officers from Cheshire Constabulary's Exploitation Team joined forces with Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service.

The team were also assisted by a specialist Tobacco Detection Dog, which helped locate over 11,000 counterfeit and illegal cigarettes, many of which were hidden in sophisticated concealment hides.

More than 7,000 cigarettes were found at Local Station Off Licence on Brook Street, Chester, while officers seized a further 1,200 from Easy Go Vapes on Delamere Street.

Another 3,000-plus illegal cigarettes were discovered at King Vape Mini Market in Neston.

All of these products were subsequently seized by officers and will be destroyed. Trading Standards colleagues are now seeking closure orders on two of the premises.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Manson, of the Western Exploitation Team at Cheshire Police, led Operation Accommodate.

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He said: "As a result of this operation we've recovered well over 11,000 fake cigarettes from three stores, which will have considerably disrupted the efforts of those looking to benefit from criminal activity.

"We have seen links between the sale of these illicit substances and organised immigration crime and modern slavery offences, which is why we are committed to doing all we can to identify those involved.

"I hope this operation highlights to members of the public the volume of work that goes into keeping our residents safe from those who are intent on causing risk and harm to our communities."