Counterfeit Viagra seized and five illegal workers arrested in Lancaster and Morecambe

This photo of confiscated items was released by Lancashire Police

Counterfeit Viagra was among an illegal stash seized as arrests were made at shops across Lancaster and Morecambe.

Five arrests - two men and three women - have been made at three business premises under the Immigration Act for working illegally,

Hundreds of packets of counterfeit cigarettes and more than 70 pouches of hand rolling tobacco were also found at two shops in Lancaster and Morecambe earlier this month.   

An operation involving police, Trading Standards and the Home Office took place on March 13.

The operation targeted trading standards and illegal working offences, with several shops and business premises visited.

A closure order on an un-named shop in Lancaster city centre has been applied for, after a visit from Trading Standards led to confiscation of 162 packets of cigarettes and 39 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco.

"A shop in Lancaster city centre was visited by Trading Standards, with a test purchase of illicit cigarettes made, and a packet of counterfeit cigarettes was handed over by a member of the shop’s staff," said a Morecambe Area Police spokesperson.

"That led to the premises being searched, with further cigarette packets and hand rolling tobacco found in a storeroom.

"A closure order will now be sought for the shop, with this being the second such seizure after a similar visit five days earlier.

"During a visit to a shop in Morecambe, 209 packets of illicit cigarettes and 33 pouches of hand rolling tobacco was found, counterfeit Viagra, 51 counterfeit Pop Mart Labubu dolls and seven counterfeit Labubu keyrings.

"There were five arrests – two men and three women - made at three business premises under the Immigration Act for working illegally."

PC Katie Foster of the Lancaster and Morecambe Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This was a successful multi-agency operation targeting counterfeit and illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes, and people working illegally at business premises.

“We work closely with our colleagues from partner agencies to investigate shops and businesses which are selling counterfeit goods and employing people illegally.

“Counterfeit cigarettes can cause harm to the public and fall into the wrong hands.” 

Josh Johns, Chief Immigration Officer, said: “Illegal working undercuts honest businesses, undermines our immigration rules and often leads to the exploitation of vulnerable people.

“This was an excellent partnership operation which I hope sends a clear message that we are bearing down on all forms of high street crime across the region.”

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