Police seize vapes worth £1m found behind hidden door

A haul of counterfeit vapes worth £1m were found in a hidden room during a police raid on a shop in Manchester.

They were discovered at the vape shop on Rugby Street in Cheetham Hill in the joint raid by police, Salford City Council and Trading Standards officers on Monday.

Officers entered the shop and noticed a hidden door, where they found a "whole new room concealing the illicit vapes".

Greater Manchester Police said patrols were remaining in the area to "ensure no criminality can creep back in".

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said: “Supplying illegal vapes and tobacco products to the public undermines our efforts to protect our communities and helps to fund a variety of criminal activities.

"It can undercut and undermine the reputation of our local retailers who operate legally to provide goods and services across the city.”

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]