Council officers in Bury seized tens of thousands of pounds worth of illegal goods as part of a police crackdown last week.

Trading standards and licensing officers seized illicit goods worth £30,000 last Thursday as part of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Operation Avro, a multi-agency initiative to tackle crime across the region.

The day of action, which included enforcement and engagement with residents, involved a partnership between GMP, the public sector and communities across the borough.

Council officers visited seven premises with a sniffer dog, GMP and six immigration officers.

As part of the raids, they seized 788 vapes and 19.3kg hand-rolling tobacco, which equates to 1,164 packets.

They also seize 23,280 cigarettes, the equivalent of 1,164 packets.

READ MORE: Restaurant boost for Ramsbottom after damaging hospitality closures

Licensing officers also spoke with 52 taxi private hire drivers, of which 21 will require follow-up action.

Environmental health staff issued a fixed penalty notice for failing to produce authority to transport waste, while a further six cases will be subject to investigation.

The approximate street value of the seized goods equates to £30,334 which is now off the streets of Bury.

During one of the visits, officers discovered a quantity of drugs in a licensed premises which was subsequently seized by GMP, who arrested two people.

There will now be further criminal investigations and possible enforcement action.

In addition to illegal goods, GMP also took part in patrols, traffic stops and community engagement.

READ MORE: Off licence has premises licence suspended after bags of cannabis found in storeroom

Roadside vehicle stops took place near the Maccabi Centre in Prestwich and on Walmersely Road, with roving patrols during the day.

Some 127 traffic offences were dealt with, including 73 speeding offences, and eight vehicles were seized.

READ MORE: Tortoise weigh-in at The Rock in Bury a success again

Council staff also helped to dismantle the site of a cannabis farm.

The anti-social behaviour team carried out joint patrols in Bury town centre with Bury College and TravelSafe colleagues at Bury Interchange and Metrolink network.

The patrols included addressing street drinking in Kay Gardens, in line with the council’s new public space protection order.

Youth outreach workers joined these patrols, promoting community safety and supporting the use of a knife arch on the transport network.

Community safety officers hosted a hate crime awareness session in conjunction with the BRAC (Bolton, Bury and Rochdale African Community) network, delivered with GMP.

A community engagement session was held at Radcliffe Market, providing advice in relation to women’s and girls’ safety and domestic abuse.

READ MORE: Bury: People getting mental health help can swap cigarettes for vapes

Council teams were joined by Six Town Housing, Healthwatch and Calico.

GMP’s new neighbourhood inspector for Radcliffe was introduced to the community, including engagement with Radcliffe Street Pastors and Radcliffe Litter Pickers.

Advice was also available in the Mill Gate centre and The Rock in relation to anti-social behaviour, alongside engagement with partners from Early Break and Achieve (drug and alcohol services) and Talk Listen Change (domestic abuse behaviour change programme).

Building on work with the Manchester United Foundation, a community football match took place between "Street Reds" participants and local community safety colleagues, promoting the value of sport as an alternative to criminality.