A number of arrests were made and illicit tobacco seized when Nottinghamshire Police took part in a national crackdown on organised immigration crime.
Officers joined teams from partner agencies to conduct visits to nail salons, barber shops and convenience stores across Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire Police, HMRC and Immigration Enforcement officers attended premises in locations including Hucknall, Beeston and Eastwood during the national week of action.
Four arrests were made in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where police also seized a quantity of illicit shisha tobacco.
Two women, aged 25 and 40, and two men, aged 22 and 42, were arrested by Immigration Enforcement on suspicion of immigration offences.
Neighbourhood officers also took part in an operation in Nottingham city centre to check delivery drivers and others working in the short-term ‘gig economy’.
Eleven people were stopped and spoken to, with two e-bikes and one moped being seized.
Teams taking part included the force’s Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit and neighbourhood policing teams.
Detective Constable Chris Archer, of the Modern Slavery Team, said:
“The national week of action was a timely opportunity to take action against organised immigration crime.
“Often using seemingly legitimate businesses as fronts, the individuals responsible are able to conceal illegal activity, launder the proceeds of crime and exploit workers.
“Operations like this allow us and our partners to identify and safeguard the vulnerable people being exploited by organised criminals for their own profit.
“While this intensification period has ended, our work to tackle organised immigration crime continues every day, and information from the public remains vital in helping us protect people and bring offenders to justice.”
The national Operation Lockstream, coordinated through the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce (OICDT), saw enforcement and engagement activity take place across the country between 15 and 20 June, focusing on sectors identified as being vulnerable to criminal exploitation, including car washes, barber shops, nail salons and vape shops.
