Six Spalding businesses were raided as part of a police operation targeting organised immigration crime last month,
Lincolnshire Police says it carried out the searches of properties in the Winsover Road, Holbeach Road, Westlode Street and the High Street areas on June 17 as part of Operation Lockstream.
From those 20 packs of illicit tobacco were seized, and one stop and search led to Immigration Enforcement carrying out a number of follow-up enquiries based on information gathered during the visits.
Police say raids were also carried out in Boston the day before the Spalding raids and in Lincoln on July 1.
In total there were 10 arrests, the seizure of more than half a million pounds’ worth of illicit cigarettes and £5,000 cash while six immigration referrals were made and a shop closure order imposed, with a further three being sought.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: “Our officers joined forces with both local and national colleagues for three days of focused Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce (OICDT) activity known as ‘Operation Lockstream’.
“This is a national response to serious organised criminal activity that deliberately facilitates the illegal movement of people into, through, or out of the UK, the criminal manipulation of immigration systems for profit, and the criminal activities of those organised crime groups.”
The officer who coordinated operations on the day, Local Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Callum Corder, said: “This activity is so valuable for our crime disruption strategy, it also strengthens vital intelligence and information sharing, identifying and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
“I reiterate that we are listening, and we hear your concerns. You may not see immediate action, but we are working hard in the background to address the matters that you raise to us. But I ask that you keep reporting your concerns or suspicions to us with as much information as possible.”
