Armed police swooped on two vehicles in Runcorn as part of an investigation into a robbery and "high value thefts".
Cheshire and North Wales Armed Policing Alliance tweeted at 6.34pm last night that officers had made arrests as part of the operation.
A police helicopter had been seen hovering over the Palacefields area of Runcorn, Cheshire, at about 6.30pm.
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There were no remaining signs of police activity when the ECHO attended the area a short time later.
Cheshire Police released more details this afternoon.
A force spokesman said officers arrested a 35-year-old man and 14-year-old boy from Runcorn on suspicion of robbery.
They were taken into custody and are being questioned.
The arrests stemmed from an investigation led by detectives based in Northwich into 23 thefts of cigarettes around Cheshire over the last month in Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington, Holmes Chapel, Northwich, Winsford and Alderley Edge.
The armed alliance tweet said: "Following a report of a robbery and historic numerous high value Thefts (10s of thousands), ARV have located 2 vehicles on false plates in the Runcorn area. Males arrested and taken to custody. #NotJustGuns "
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