A conveniend stors in Royal Wootton Bassett has been ordered to close following ongoing criminal activity uncovered by Wiltshire Council's Trading Standards service.
Royal Mini Market, located at 129 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, was served with a closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The order was granted by Swindon Magistrates' Court, on Wednesday (April15) and will remain in place for 3 months.
Only named habitual residents and authorised individuals are now permitted to enter the premises. Anyone else found inside is committing a criminal offence and could face up to 51 weeks in prison and/or a fine.
The business, which opened in November 2024, has been the subject of repeated enforcement action linked to the illegal sale of tobacco and vapes.
Trading Standards investigations identified confusion over the operation of the business, with different individuals named in food registration, business rate records and company registrations, which officers said hampered regulation and enforcement.
In November 2024, a vape was sold to a child under the age of 18 during a test purchase operation with Wiltshire Police. The following month, a Trading Standards officer purchased a packet of counterfeit cigarettes for £5.
The product was illegally packaged, lacked health warnings and breached tobacco packaging and trademark legislation.
Despite written warnings and advice issued in January 2025, further intelligence throughout 2025 indicated that illegal tobacco sales continued.
In February 2026, Trading Standards officers and Wiltshire Police carried out a joint enforcement operation at the premises. Officers seized more than 150 non-compliant vapes, as well as 173 packets of cigarettes and 67 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco.
The items were concealed in a hydraulic hidden compartment beneath the rear storeroom floor and were located with the assistance of a specialist tobacco detection dog. Some of the seized vapes were single-use products that have been prohibited since June 2025.
Cllr Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: This closure order reflects the seriousness of the criminal activity taking place at these premises and the clear disregard shown for the law, community safety and the wellbeing of young people.
The continued sale of counterfeit and illicit tobacco presents real risks to public safety, including increased fire hazards due to the absence of required safety features, as well as wider harm to young people and the local community.
Illegal tobacco and unregulated vapes undermine legitimate traders, put people at risk and fuel further criminality. We will continue to work closely with our partners to disrupt this activity and protect residents and local businesses. I would like to thank our Trading Standards officers and Wiltshire Police for their persistence and professionalism in bringing this case before the court.
Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Inspector Scott Anger said: "This is a really positive example where vital community intelligence has led to enforcement action being taken against a business deliberately disregarding the law.
"Royal Mini Market was not only selling vapes to underage teenagers but also knowingly selling counterfeit tobacco and vapes.
"This is not a victimless offence. As well as the potential health risks due to the lack of quality controls, the sale and supply of these goods is heavily linked with serious and organised crime, while also undermining legitimate retailers.
"I'd like to thank our Police Cadets for their support with the investigation and Trading Standards officers for their hard work in securing this closure order.
"I want to highlight that this type of enforcement activity is only possible through information and intelligence from the community.
"If you have any information regarding the sale of illicit tobacco or vapes then please report it and we will continue to take action with our partner agencies to keep communities safe."