A Black Country convenience shop has been ordered to close for three months following a Trading Standards sting following the charges of underage sale of vape and alcohol along with multiple seizure of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and e-ciggs from its premises.
According to Dudley Council, an investigation was launched following complaints that a store called Stourbridge Mini Market was selling vapes to children.
In April, a child volunteer was sent in as part of an undercover sting to carry out a test purchase and was sold a vape. Around 3,000 illegal vapes were found when the shop was subsequently raided. Teams made large seizures of illegal vapes and tobacco, some of which had been stored in a vehicle and in two separate properties.
Despite these raids and warning letters being sent from the local authority, the business was caught out again on June 19 for selling alcohol to another child volunteer who was working with trading standards, Dudley Council said. On July 10, the council served a 24-hour closure notice on Stourbridge Mini Market, when they again found more illegal vapes.
The shop was closed for three months by Walsall magistrates the following day. The owners, who took over the shop in December, did not attend court to object to the closure.
Councilor Ian Bevan, cabinet member for public health, said: “This is an excellent result to have stopped this business from trading. Rogue businesses such as this one not only harm the health of the community but also undermine legitimate businesses and the local economy.
“This swift action taken by the trading standards team shows that we will do all we can to keep our community safe.”
