Five Men Busted in Swindon Vape and Tobacco Raid! Wiltshire Police, teaming up with HMRC and Trading Standards, have cracked down hard in Broadgreen, Swindon. They swooped on three shops and a property on Manchester Road, arresting five men and seizing over £55,000 worth of illegal vapes, tobacco, and booze.
Illegal Vapes and More Seized
The bust was part of the Clear Hold Build crackdown targeting dodgy traders. Officers discovered loads of unlawful goods, including:
- Disposable vapes boasting a staggering 15,000+ puffs — way over the legal limit of 600 puffs.
- Illicit tobacco products straight off the black market.
- Unlicensed alcohol, sold without a legal stamp.
Five Men Arrested Under Trade Marks Act
The men were hauled in under Section 92 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 and are now in custody undergoing questioning. The police are keeping a tight lid on the investigation.
Police Praise Cross-Agency Teamwork
Sergeant Winter from Swindon Central South Neighbourhood Team hailed the operation:
“This was a highly successful morning involving excellent multi-agency work. During our raids, we seized tens of thousands of pounds of illegal tobacco and vapes, some of which vastly exceeded safety restrictions.”
He added a call for local help:
“Community intelligence is vital to enable us to conduct operations like this. If you have concerns about activity in your area, please report it to us.”
See Something, Say Something
If you spot anything suspicious in Swindon, don’t stay silent. Report it via:
- Online: Wiltshire Police website
- Phone: Call 101
- Anonymous Tip-off: Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
This major raid sends a clear message: Wiltshire’s tackling the illegal goods trade head-on to keep communities safe.
