Four Stoke-on-Trent shops closed as part of a raid on illegal cigarettes and vapes

Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold.

Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold. This follows several months of investigation and test purchasing, including under age test purchasing, and a co-ordinated joint trading standards and police operation last week to target illegal cigarettes and vapes in the City. The officers were also supported by a tobacco detection team including sniffer dog, from Wagtail UK.

The raids, linked to Operation CeCe, a national initiative which aims to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco, resulted in the seizure of  563 illegal vapes (£7319), 4.5kg of fake hand-rolling tobacco (retail value of £4300, street value £825 and £3000 of evaded duty), 17,600 illegal cigarettes (retail value of £11,000, street value £4000 and £8000 of evaded duty), and 40 packs of illegal shisha (estimated value £700) from the shop premises and one car which was also searched. 

The council has now used its powers to issue four of the premises with a 48-hour closure notice and last week, Newcastle Magistrates Court made a closure order for each of the premises extending the 48 hours to three months. The city council will now work with the landlords of the premises to re-purpose them.

Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability advised: “Another great result by the trading standards team. Premises found to be selling items illegally will face the consequences.
“I encourage any resident to report any suspicious activity relating to the sale of illegal vapes, tobacco, underage sales and anything related.
“We want Stoke-on-Trent to be a safe, thriving place, and this type of activity undermines the hard work of residents and legitimate businesses.”

“When we have the evidence, we will continue to take action like this against businesses who sell illegal goods in Stoke-on-Trent.”

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.” 

Anyone who wants to report a similar issue to trading standards can call the Trading Standards Hotline 01782 238444 or visit stoke.gov.uk.