Illegal cigarettes and tobacco shop closed down

A shop that was repeatedly caught selling illegal tobacco and cigarettes has been closed down.

The Golden Vape shop in Newport, Shropshire, was visited three times over a 12-month period by Telford and Wrekin Council, and the local authority said 4,120 cigarettes and 3.1kg of tobacco had been removed.

None of the products had been subject to the payment of tax or duty, it added.

The council said it had worked with West Mercia Police and the landlord to get the tenant evicted.

Nathan England, the councillor responsible for "safer streets", said the sale of illegal tobacco products "undermines legitimate businesses, deprives public services of vital tax revenue and can help fund wider criminal activity".

The council said this was the second time in the past 12 months that a landlord had worked with trading standards officers to close a shop involved in criminal activity.

"We would encourage landlords to work with us where there is evidence of illegal activity taking place within commercial premises," England said.

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