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How a hidden room, false wall, medicine cabinet and ‘Lazy Susan’ concealed criminality. |
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Update 3 of 5 As part of our series on Op Machinize, the National Crime Agency co-ordinated multi-agency operation focussed on tackling high street crime, today we focus on the thousands of illegal items discovered in Bourne, Grantham, Gainsborough and Lincoln. Criminals go to great lengths to conceal their illicit activities, often creating sophisticated ‘hides’ for the contraband they sell to fund far-reaching criminal activity. We’re aware they exist — it’s simply a matter of choosing the right moment to strike. On 7 October, during an enforcement at a store on North Street in Bourne, officers exposed a hide which turned out to be an entire room, lined with shelves, stocked floor to ceiling with a staggering 45,940 illicit cigarettes, 1.4kg of hand rolling tobacco and 752 vapes. On the same day (7 October) teams headed over to Grantham where they discovered a significant concealment of 15,180 cigarettes, 13.9kg of hand rolling tobacco, and 1,574 of vapes in void located behind a false wall in a shop on the High Street. The already successful day was rounded off with yet another hide being located at a store on St Peters Hill, with 1kg of hand rolling tobacco and 6,000 illegal cigarettes being discovered. On 24 October, our strategic unit targeted 16 premises during a day of Lincoln and Hykeham enforcements. A hide was located at on High Street, Lincoln, cleverly disguised as an innocuous white ‘medicine’ cabinet. At first glance, the cabinet appeared to contain only a few packets of headache tablets and similar items. On closer inspection it was found to be masking a hidden compartment. Officers discovered a hidden void dug into the wall, stocked with 4,880 illicit cigarettes and 800g of hand rolling tobacco. A haul of around 4,500 cigarettes and 3g of hand rolling tobacco were seized in a hide at a shop on Trinity Street in Gainsborough on 28 October. The illegal products were located behind a false plug socket that concealed the opening to a ‘lazy susan’ style carousel loaded with illicit cigarettes which really demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to hide their contraband and illicit activity. Sergeant Steve Parker said: "We remain resolute in our determination to disrupt these networks. Through strategic enforcement, intelligence-led operations, and the full use of legislative powers, we will continue to protect our streets from often unseen criminality — ensuring that communities across Lincolnshire, remain safe, resilient, and inhospitable to those who seek to profit from criminal enterprise in our county." Of the overall operation, Inspector Paul Sands said: "The effort criminals invest in hiding illegal goods shows just how vital it is to their operations. These sales don’t just break the law—they bankroll serious crimes like trafficking, drugs, and laundering, which harm society in countless ways. "Each inspection gives us a chance to uncover intelligence and take unsafe, counterfeit products out of circulation. "Working together—with partners and the public—is key. Every disruption weakens these networks and reinforces our commitment: organised crime will not thrive in Lincolnshire." Three of the exciting discoveries captured on video can be seen here:
Entire room hide, Grantham https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GqVt2t5uB/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Lazy Susan, Gainsborough https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GdpidjFVR/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Medicine cabinet, Lincoln https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5jHgduBU0 Stay tuned over the next two days for more information about this co-ordinated crackdown.
Report it We call on the public to stand with us. Community support is vital — by reporting suspicious activity via the correct channels and refusing to engage with illegal trade or scams, residents can play a crucial role in helping us dismantle these harmful networks, keeping Lincolnshire safe for everyone. If you have any information or concerns, please reach out. There are a number of ways you can do this: Speak with our officers at our various engagement opportunities Email your local NPTs directly via the dedicated neighbourhood policing sections of our website: https://www.lincs.police.uk/area/your-area/ Chat with us while we’re on foot patrols Call 101 Or speak / email anonymously, via Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.../give-information... Always call 999 in an emergency. All intelligence is handled sensitively and confidentially. Together, we can continue to target drug-related crime and protect our communities. Previous releases | ||
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