Yahoo News Unnamed Stockton store latest to be closed over illegal and counterfeit cigarettes
Another shop in Stockton town centre has been forced to close its doors after being caught selling illegal and counterfeit cigarettes.
Stockton Council successfully obtained a three-month closure order for the unnamed store, located at 80 Dovecot Street, from Teesside Magistrates' Court on 26 June. The council's Trading Standards officers had earlier confirmed that the shop was selling illegal cigarettes that did not comply with tobacco labelling regulations during test purchases.
Despite warnings about criminal activity taking place at the store, further test purchases revealed continued sales of illicit tobacco, the court heard. On each occasion, the shopkeeper retrieved the cigarettes from a hidden storage room at the back of the shop.
This follows recent closures of Bulk Sale on Norton Road, as well as the Blue Shop and Zirak Mini Market in the area. Carolyn Nice, the Council's Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: "We're sending out a strong message with these closures, if you're selling illegal cigarettes then we will seek to shut you down."
"The investigations into illegal cigarette sales are incredibly complex and our Trading Standards officers continue to work tirelessly and take a zero-tolerance approach. They deserve enormous credit for bringing this action forward so quickly and securing the maximum closure order period of three months."
"Counterfeit cigarettes pose a big risk to communities because it's very difficult to know what is in them and it's incredibly worrying that such cigarettes are being sold to people. And of course we encourage any residents who are concerned about sales of illicit cigarettes to continue to get in touch with our Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@ stockton.gov.uk."
This work was carried out as part of Operation Cece, which is run in partnership with the National Trading Standards and HMRC to help tackle the sales of illicit tobacco. 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 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."
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