A Leicestershire convenience shop has been closed down for three months following a court order after it was found selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco products.
Officers from Leicestershire Police worked together with Leicestershire Trading Standards officials to secure the closure order. The premises at 15 Church Gate in Loughborough was shut down after magistrates granted the order on Wednesday (May 7).
Police said illegal products impact the health of the local community and also affect legitimate businesses trading nearby. They added there is also a link between these businesses and areas of antisocial behaviour.
The joint operation was carried out by Trading Standards and police as part of what they said were ongoing efforts to tackle illegal sales in the county. Large posters have been installed on the premises explaining that it has been closed down due to illegal activity.
Officers said such operations would continue to disrupt those who put the local community at risk through the sale of unregulated products. Anyone with information about businesses selling illegal tobacco or vapes should contact Leicestershire Police on 101. Alternatively, report information on the force's website.
Elsewhere in Suffolk, Trading Standards seized 150 vapes during a raid at two different stores in Ipswich and Stowmarket.
Last week, raids were carried out in the two stores where illegal tobacco and illegal vapes were seized. In total, 12 packets of cigarettes, one pouch of hand rolling tobacco and 150 vapes were seized by Trading Standards.
The vapes seized did not meet the legal requirements.
All the tobacco products are suspected of being illegally imported into the UK, without duty being paid, and they do not comply with the legal packaging and labelling requirements.
It is also suspected that several of the tobacco products are counterfeits of popular brands.
A spokesperson for Suffolk Trading Standards has said that the seized products will now be fully assessed as part of the investigation to determine the exact offences that have been committed and the action that will be taken.
This is part of Operation CeCe, which is a wider government strategy to disrupt every aspect of the illegal tobacco market and is a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs.
