Correction — 13 November 2026: An earlier version of this article described a different operation, in Maidstone and Ashford in February and March 2025. It has been rewritten from Kent Police’s release of 12 November 2026 about Operation Machinize. The correction is recorded on our Corrections page.
Kent Police and partners visited 70 high street businesses in October as part of Operation Machinize, seizing an estimated £28,472 of illicit cigarettes from shops in Herne Bay, Dover, Medway and elsewhere.
Eight people have been arrested and an estimated £28,472 worth of illicit cigarettes seized after Kent Police and partner agencies visited 70 high street businesses across the county during October 2026, as part of Operation Machinize, an ongoing project coordinated by the National Crime Agency to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.
Officers found BB guns not conforming to safety regulations, quantities of nitrous oxide, suspected unlicensed weight loss drugs, disposable vapes, counterfeit toys and counterfeit caffeine drinks during the visits, which covered grocery shops, nail bars, barbers and vape shops. Enquiries were carried out into suspected offences ranging from money laundering and selling illegal or stolen goods to modern day slavery and drug dealing.
Searches assisted by detection dogs uncovered illicit goods hidden in laundry bags, light fittings, adjoining flats and specially built hidden compartments within shops. Tobacco was also found concealed in fridges and freezers. Secret spaces containing thousands of illicit cigarettes were uncovered.
On 1 October, a warrant was carried out at a shop in Herne Bay where eight laundry bags and a fridge-freezer were found packed with tobacco. Three men were arrested. On 12 October, officers visited six shops in Dover, finding illicit tobacco at two of them and seizing counterfeit toys at a third. On 25 October, police in Medway stopped a car and found around £3,000 in cash and 770 packets of illicit tobacco. A 24-year-old man from Sevenoaks was arrested on suspicion of fraud. Electronic fobs found in the car were traced back to a shop, where they activated a hatch to a hidden compartment containing 376 packets of cigarettes as well as tobacco.
During the visits, staff were spoken to about welfare and employment rights. Those believed to be vulnerable and at risk of safeguarding issues were provided with support.
All eight people arrested have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Detective Inspector Dave Godfrey of Kent Police said: “By working with our partners, we can respond in the best way according to what is found during the visits.” He added: “As well as enforcement, we can educate and signpost those that need it to support services to ensure our high streets are safe and operating to a high level of quality service for the public.” DI Godfrey said: “Those who use shops as fronts to run organised criminal networks will be uncovered and can expect to face legal action.”
Key information
- Operation: Operation Machinize, coordinated by the National Crime Agency
- Businesses visited: 70 across Kent in October 2026
- Arrests: eight, all bailed pending further enquiries
- Illicit cigarettes seized: an estimated £28,472 worth