Cambridgeshire shop closed after thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes seized

A Cambridgeshire food shop has been closed after thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes were seized. EuroFood in Peterborough will be shut for three months from Thursday (April 25) following an investigation by Peterborough City Council’s Trading Standards Team.

Peterborough Magistrates Court granted a closure order on the shop, after raids by Trading Standards at the premises. The raids resulted in the seizure of approximately 35,000 illicit cigarettes and 3,500 illegal vapes.

Trading Standards and the police had received multiple reports from the public concerning illegal vapes and tobacco being sold at the premises. Multiple raids had taken place before the closure order was granted.

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In August 2023, approximately 4,400 illegal cigarettes and 2,000 illegal vapes were seized. In January 2024, approximately 5,600 illegal cigarettes and 900 vapes were seized during one raid, with a further 24,600 illegal cigarettes and 621 vapes seized in another raid.

Joanne Smith, Consumer Protection Team Leader for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards, said: "The Closure Order issued today will have an instant and substantial impact on EuroFood. It is the first time we have used such an Order for illicit tobacco and it sends a clear message to the organised crime gangs behind these crimes that the sale of illicit tobacco products in Peterborough will not be tolerated."

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