Cheshire Police arrested a man and seized a weapon during an operation targeting immigration offences at businesses in Crewe. Officers carried out the visits on Wednesday 11 November around the Edleston Road and Chester Bridge areas as part of Operation Machinize. Four commercial premises were targeted, including vape shops, barber shops and a nail bar. The operation focused on cash-rich businesses, with attention on money laundering, illicit sales and immigration offences. Crewe Police’s Problem Solving Team, Foreign National Offender Team and local Beat teams worked with partners from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Immigration Enforcement. As a result of the operation, one man was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. Officers also discovered a weapon at one of the premises and seized it. Police further seized a quantity of illicit cigarettes. Fines totalling more than £45,000 were issued to shops for offences including immigration and HMRC offences. The investigation is ongoing, with Cheshire Police saying it will continue working with partners to target cash-rich commercial premises and tackle organised crime, modern slavery and immigration offences.