Operation Lockstream: Organised Immigration Crime enforcements

A sweeping crackdown on organised immigration crime (OIC) has led officers seizing more than half a million pounds’ worth of illegal cigarettes and cash in targeted enforcements across the county.

Our officers joined forces with both local and national colleagues for three days of focused Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce (OICDT) activity known as ‘Operation Lockstream’. 

This is a national response to serious organised criminal activity that deliberately facilitates the illegal movement of people into, through, or out of the UK, the criminal manipulation of immigration systems for profit, and the criminal activities of those organised crime groups.

Results

Enforcement activity was carried out across Boston (16 June), Spalding (17 June), and Lincoln (1 July), which resulted in:

In Boston, the team uncovered one of the largest illicit tobacco hauls ever seen in the UK, seizing so much contraband that three transit vans were required to remove it. The operation resulted in the seizure of 348,500 cigarettes – equivalent to more than 17,500 packs of 20 cigarettes – alongside over a quarter of a tonne (280.5kg) of hand-rolling tobacco. Together, the products are estimated to be worth more than £525,000, delivering a significant blow to the illegal tobacco trade. £2,000was also seized.

Two men, aged 36 and 29, were arrested at premises on Main Ridge East and Market Place in Boston respectively on suspicion of possession of forged / counterfeit goods for export / import, and duty or tax evasion matters. One person is being dealt with by Immigration.  

In Lincoln, six visits were carried out in the High Street, Portland Street and St Mark’s areas of the city.  Six people were arrested, two of whom were on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences, four were for immigration matters that were dealt with by Immigration colleagues. £3,000, as well as other evidential material, was recovered from one premises and four people have been safeguarded as a result of the activity with a number of immigration referrals having been completed. A concealment containing illegal cigarettes was found in the ceiling of a premises on High Street. The goods were seized by Trading Standards and the matter is under investigation.

In Spalding, six business premises visits were carried out in the Winsover Road, Holbeach Road, Westlode Street and the High Street areas. Twenty packs of illicit tobacco were seized, and one stop and search led to Immigration Enforcement colleagues carrying out a number of follow-up enquiries based on information gathered during the visits.

It is believed that enforcement activity carried out the previous day in Boston caused significant disruption to criminal operations. Officers found several concealed compartments, or ‘hides’ – purpose-built spaces often hidden behind false walls and used to store illicit goods – empty. This suggests those involved had been forced to move or remove stock as a result of the heightened enforcement activity, disrupting their illicit supply chains.

As part of the operation, a Closure Order on 52 Upgate, Louth was granted at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court. The application by Trading Standards was based on criminal activity on the premises, namely possession for supply of illegal cigarettes and tobacco. We thank local residents for their information which has made this action possible. 

Cllr Alex McGonigle, executive councillor for Lincolnshire Trading Standards at the county council, said: “The huge seizure of illegal goods in Boston will make a real difference in keeping unsafe products off our streets. This joint work between our Trading Standards team and Lincolnshire Police is part of the constant battle to and to crack down on illegal activity.  Trading Standards will undertake investigations into all seizures. Lincolnshire County Council will instigate criminal legal proceedings against those responsible where appropriate to do so. We will employ all means at our disposal to protect legitimate businesses. We look forward to the forthcoming change in the law to allow closure of premises for a maximum of 12 months. 

“I’m also grateful to residents for raising concerns and providing information that underpin this work. I know that you don’t want unscrupulous traders in your community, and we will continue to do all we can to support legitimate businesses. In response to those concerns Trading Standards will soon be piloting a scheme with Lincolnshire Police to intensify enforcement within perceived crime hotspots.” 

Most organised crime is connected to violence, exploitation and anti-social behaviour. Organised immigration crime drives a broad range of criminal activity, including county lines operations, wider drug trafficking and distribution, money laundering, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child sexual exploitation.

The officer overseeing this intensification activity, Lincolnshire Police’s Intelligence Bureau Detective Inspector Paul Sands, said: “Organised Immigration Crime remains a complex and evolving threat and continues to be a national policing priority. This county-wide, multi-agency operation targeted cash-intensive businesses (those which favour the use of cash rather than debit card transactions), including mini markets, fast-food outlets, vape shops and barber shops, where organised criminality can seek to exploit legitimate trade. The arrests, seizures, and enforcement activity undertaken sends a clear message that law enforcement agencies are working together to disrupt criminal networks, to protect our communities and to bring offenders to justice. Those who seek to profit from criminality should expect to be identified, targeted and held accountable."

We will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in organised crime, disrupt their activity and remove the harm they cause to our communities."

Every concern raised and every piece of information shared plays a vital role in turning fragmented intelligence into a coherent and robust intelligence picture that supports disruption and prevention.

The officer who coordinated operations on the day, Local Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Callum Corder, said: “This activity is so valuable for our crime disruption strategy, it also strengthens vital intelligence and information sharing, identifying and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. I reiterate that we are listening, and we hear your concerns. You may not see immediate action, but we are working hard in the background to address the matters that you raise to us. But I ask that you keep reporting your concerns or suspicions to us with as much information as possible.”

Spotting the signs

Illegal working is seen most often in sectors including cleaning, construction, car washing, food production and hospitality, and is frequently linked to modern slavery, tax evasion, licencing offences and immigration offences and the sale of illegal products (in particular, illegal cigarettes). 

Our Neighbourhood Teams continue to raise awareness within our communities on knowing how to spot the signs, how to report, and how to ask for help.

Illegal working often manifests in the form of identity misuse and document fraud connected to vulnerable people; labour exploitation including excessive working hours, coercion and debt bondage - where people smugglers will give free ‘gifts’ or services, then demand payment through work (usually playing a part in criminal enterprise), leaving people vulnerable and unable to leave the situation in which they find themselves. There’s also the financial exploitation of these vulnerable individuals which includes ‘wage skimming’ and benefit fraud. 

Report it

You can help disrupt and prevent organised immigration crime.

Intelligence gathering never stops. If you see something that doesn’t look right, if you are worried about someone, or something looks suspicious, please report it.

If you feel you have information that might be useful to us, there are a many ways you can get in touch. 

By calling 101

By telling us about concerns via the 'Tell us about' section of our website: https://www.lincs.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/

You can also report via the Home Office endorsed charity Stop the Traffick, and the STOP App, which can be downloaded by anyone anywhere in the world with access to a smartphone. 

Or anonymously, via the Crimestoppers website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Always call 999 in an emergency.

All information is handled sensitively and confidentially. Together, we can continue to target drug-related crime / anti-social behaviour and protect our communities.

*These valuations are based on average price of king size cigarettes in the UK, many of the brands are not available for legitimate retail in the UK, so the average was applied.

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