As part of the ongoing crackdown on sale of illicit goods in the region, a mini-market model store has been ordered to close after the store was found selling illegal tobacco on multiple occasions.
City Mini Market in North Ormesby was given a three-month closure order by Teesside Magistrates on Tuesday (May 20) after the court heard evidence of illicit sales.
The court heard how Middlesbrough Trading Standards had targeted the Kings Road shop for test purchasing action after receiving complaints, with purchases of illicit tobacco made on three separate occasions.
Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council’s Head of Public Protection, said, “This closure order shows the benefit of targeted enforcement action against prolific sellers of illicit tobacco to remove their malign influence from our streets.
“Our Trading Standards Officers will continue to utilise all enforcement tools at their disposal to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade.”
Councillor Janet Thompson, then Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Selling illicit cigarettes and vaping products brings crime into our communities through the supply links with organised crime.
“This callous and exploitative trade also perpetuates health inequalities locally and puts our young people at particular risk. We will continue to take firm action to stamp out this illegal trade.”
Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council has also closed another shop in the county due to illegal tobacco sales, bringing the total number to 10.
On Monday (May 19), a closure order was granted for Romanco, on New Canal in Salisbury, after illegal tobacco was found to have been sold and seized multiple times.
Biryar Mohammed, who owns the recently-closed Romanco store in Salisbury, must now attend three hours of training provided by Trading Standards before the end of the closure period.
It comes after a 16-year-old volunteer was initially quoted £6 for a pack of cigarettes in his shop, before the sale was ultimately refused. A legitimate pack of the same brand usually costs over £14.
In December, an undercover officer visited the shop which has closed previously, and staff sold him a packet of Richmond and Lambert & Butler cigarettes for £6 each.
The next day, another undercover officer purchased a pack of Richmond cigarettes for just £5.
All cigarettes purchased were later confirmed as counterfeit, with the Richmond packs also in non-standardised packaging.
New Road Mini Mart in Chippenham, Rex Vape Station Ltd in Devizes, and Milksham Vape & Shop in Melksham were all slapped with closure notices in December 2024.
