OP Machinize

Operation Machinize

Over the last few weeks Devon & Cornwall Police and  partner agencies took part in Operation Machinize,  an ongoing national operation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA). It's aimed at high street businesses which turn over a lot of cash as these can be exploited by organised criminals. The NCA estimates that £12 BILLION of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, and it can be laundered by being mixed into the legitimate financial system of this sort of high street business or used to fund other criminal activity.

The type of premises that have been visited across Devon and Cornwall included barbershops, vape shops, nail bars and car washes. Over £100k of counterfeit or illegal products have been seized including cigarettes, tobacco and vapes and fake Labubu style toys which could have been very dangerous if bought for a young child.

If you have any information about criminal activity in business premises in your neighbourhood, please let us know. All intelligence received is very useful. Report suspected criminal activity through the Devon & Cornwall Police website here https://orlo.uk/Report_Crime_to_Devon___Cornwall_Police_2af2M or anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.