Police seized about £5,000 worth of suspected stolen goods, counterfeit cigarettes, cash and weapons during raids on five businesses in Brighton and Hove. Sussex Police and Trading Standards officers carried out a day of action targeting premises identified through months of intelligence, including concerns that some shops were buying from repeat shoplifters and selling illicit products. Officers visited five businesses across the city. The operation recovered goods believed to have been stolen and also found large quantities of suspected counterfeit cigarettes, along with cash and weapons. At one premises, Trading Standards and environmental health officers took action over fire safety concerns, forcing the business to close. Police said one person was arrested, but they have not disclosed the person’s identity or confirmed whether any criminal charges have been brought. Investigators said further enquiries are ongoing following the seizures and the arrest. The raids formed part of Operation Apprentice, an initiative aimed at strengthening the response to business crime in Brighton and Hove, involving police, council enforcement teams and local partners.