Trading Standards close three shops after persistent illegal sales of illegal tobacco

Three premises in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with three-month closure orders by the city council’s trading standards team after persistent illegal sales.

Bentilee International Mini Market, Hanley European Supermarket and Victoria Eastern European Food all have a history of selling illegal tobacco and were issued with closure notices on Thursday 27 November.

This action comes after all three shops were inspected by trading standards officers in September this year.

Illegal products were seized, including counterfeit cigarettes and oversized vapes.

The work to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco in the city forms part of Operation Cece – a national initiative led by HMRC and National Trading Standards that has already removed 69 million illegal cigarettes and 19,750kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.

Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride and enforcement at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco in Stoke-on-Trent, and I welcome the closure of these three persistent offenders.

““Our trading standards team work hard to remove illegal tobacco off our streets to protect young people and ensure legal business is not undermined. This forms part of the city council’s wider work to reclaim our streets and make our town centres more family friendly.

“The message 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