Closure order secured for Thornaby shop
A Thornaby shop has been closed for selling illicit tobacco to customers.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council secured a three-month closure order of the Green Mini Market at 31 Havelock Street, Thornaby at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 20.
The Court heard how complaints had been made from the public regarding illicit tobacco sales at the Green Mini Market after the nearby Westbury Shop on Westbury Street was issued with a three-month Closure Order on December 18, 2025.
Test purchases carried out confirmed cigarettes sold at the premises failed to comply with the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and did not have a combined health warning in accordance with the requirements under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
The purchases also confirmed that cigarettes bought from the Green Mini Market were found to be counterfeit, in contravention of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
The illicit cigarettes were sold for £5, well below the usual market price of cigarettes.
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "This Closure Order just highlights the diligent work conducted by our Trading Standards team.
"They have acted quickly on information from the public that the Green Mini Market had started selling illicit tobacco after the Westbury Shop was handed a three-month Closure Order last month.
"It's not the first time this shop has been the subject of a Closure Order so let that be a warning to businesses that we will keep coming back with a zero-tolerance approach.
"There are also the health implications to consider because people buying these cigarettes don't know exactly what is in them.
"I'd like to encourage local people to continue reporting any sales of illicit, counterfeit cigarettes to us so we can take the necessary action.
"Anyone concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes can contact our Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk."
This work was carried out as part of Operation Cece, which is run in partnership with the National Trading Standards and HMRC to help tackle the sales of illicit tobacco.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: "The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people. Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe - a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC - has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK."
