Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service recently took part in a co-ordinated multi-agency enforcement operation at a number of commercial premises across Pembrokeshire.

The operation brought together officers from Trading Standards, HMRC, Border Force, Dyfed-Powys Police, Immigration Enforcement, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and other enforcement partners.

The multi-agency operations were carried out as part of Operation Machinize, the ongoing NCA-coordinated project to tackle money laundering and the criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.

The action formed part of ongoing efforts to tackle the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco, counterfeit and non-compliant goods, and other criminal activity that can harm local communities and legitimate businesses.

During the operation, illicit tobacco was seized by HMRC, suspected counterfeit and non-compliant consumer products were secured by Trading Standards, and partner agencies undertook enforcement activity within their respective areas of responsibility.

A spokesperson for PCC said: “Investigations remain ongoing and the Council is currently considering appropriate enforcement action in conjunction with partner agencies.

“Pembrokeshire County Council remains committed to working closely with enforcement partners to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses and disrupt illegal trading activity across the county.”

Multiple people were also arrested and thousands of illegal cigarettes seized across Carmarthenshire following the crackdown as part of Operation Machinize led by Dyfed Powys Police.

The multi-agency operation took place across Carmarthenshire on Thursday, October 22, where teams carried out simultaneous visits to six separate businesses in Llanelli, Carmarthen, and Ammanford.

Sgt Tom Grace, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “This operation took a great amount of planning and co-ordinating and I’d like to thank everyone involved.

“The effort from every team has helped to protect vulnerable people and stopped thousands of potentially harmful products being sold. Illegal trading can put unregulated products into the hands of young people and affect the genuine businesses in our community.”