Published: Wednesday, 27th August 2025
A shop with a long history of selling illegal vapes and tobacco products has been issued with a three-month closure order by the city council’s trading standards team.
Vape Shop, on Trentham Road, Longton, has been subject to enforcement action multiple times with a history of supplying illegal vapes and tobacco products, including selling to children.
Since the start of 2024, Vape Shop has had four seizures of illegal products and six test purchases of illegal vapes or tobacco have been made. Additionally earlier this year, the business sold an illegal vape to an underage volunteer.
The latest closure order issued last week, forms part of Operation Cece – a national operation headed up by HMRC and National Trading Standards to tackle illegal tobacco.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, and I welcome the closure of this persistent offender.
“Our Trading Standards team works hard to remove illegal tobacco and vapes off the streets to keep everybody safe, including our children protecting our young people. It also makes sure legal businesses are not being undermined.
“This work is part of the council’s commitment to creating a cleaner, greener and safer city for all and the message we are sending out is clear: you will face serious consequences if you choose to sell illegal products.”
Anyone with concerns about illegal tobacco, vapes and underage sales can contact Trading Standards on the hotline at 01782 238884 or visit www.stoke.gov.uk/tradingstandards
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