{"id":313016,"date":"2025-08-02T22:38:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T22:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/313016\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T22:38:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T22:38:21","slug":"illicit-goods-worth-over-80k-seized-in-armley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/313016\/","title":{"rendered":"Illicit goods worth over \u00a380k seized in Armley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Illicit goods worth more than \u00a380,000 have been seized from shops in Armley as part of a police campaign focused on making town centres safer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

West Yorkshire Trading Standards and officers from the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team are continuing to investigate following the joint operation \u2013 part of the summer Safer Streets campaign \u2013 last week.<\/p>\n

They raided a number of premises and seized goods worth around \u00a383,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

These included almost 3,000 boxes of cigarettes, hundreds of pouches of tobacco, more than 600 oversized vapes, several single use vapes and two bottles of stolen alcohol.<\/p>\n

Sergeant Steve Ellis from the Leeds West Neighbourhood Police team said: \u201cWe continue to use the full range of powers available to us to tackle the issues which blight our communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes is often linked to anti-social behaviour and crime, and it is especially concerning when these items are suspected of being sold to children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cash from the sale of such goods can also be used to fund serious and organised crime so it is vital we continue to do all we can to take them off the streets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would urge anyone with information about illicit tobacco and vapes to contact us so we can take action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shoplifter banned<\/p>\n

As part of the operation, a shoplifter from Bramley was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order banning her from entering six shops around West Leeds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joanne Briscoe, 43, of Poplar Way, was convicted of theft from shop last month and has now been given a CBO, which will be in place for two years.<\/p>\n

It bans her from entering any of the following: Savers on Town Street, Armley; Aldi on Stanningley Road; Tesco in Bramley shopping centre; Sainsburys on Ring Road, Farnley; One Stop on Whingate; Home Bargains on Stanningley Road.<\/p>\n

Breach of a CBO can lead to prosecution and a prison sentence.<\/p>\n