October 19, 2026 - 208 views
Three people have been arrested by immigration officers following inspections of businesses across Conwy County.
The arrests were made on Friday, 16 October, as part of Operation Machinize, a UK-wide operation led by the National Crime Agency targeting cash-intensive businesses.
Conwy County Borough Council officers worked alongside North Wales Police, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and immigration colleagues during checks at several premises.
The operation focuses on businesses including vape shops and mini-markets, car washes, takeaways, massage premises and barbers.
Conwy Council said its Trading Standards officers also seized a quantity of potentially dangerous illicit tobacco which had been deliberately concealed.
Police, immigration and fire service officers dealt with a number of other issues during the inspections, with further enquiries continuing.
Councillor Stephen Price, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Regulatory and Audit, said the council’s Trading Standards, Licensing and CCTV teams were committed to protecting the public from dangerous goods, promoting community safety and ensuring fair trading for businesses across the county.
The operation forms part of wider efforts to tackle criminal activity associated with cash-intensive businesses. However, the council has not disclosed the locations of the premises inspected or the circumstances surrounding the three immigration arrests.
Anyone wishing to report a crime can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
