AB shop in Stockton handed three-month closure order
A Stockton Town Centre shop has been closed as Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council continues to clamp down on illicit tobacco sales.
AB Shop at 32 Norton Road has been given a three-month Closure Order, which was secured by the Council at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 27.
The Court heard how complaints had been made from the public regarding illicit tobacco sales and underage sales from the shop, which was previously handed a three-month Closure Order in March 2024.
A test purchase 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 test purchase also confirmed that cigarettes bought from AB Shop were found to be counterfeit, in contravention of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
The illicit cigarettes were also sold for £5, well below the usual market price of cigarettes.
On January 18, 2026, Trading Standards officers, with support from Cleveland Police, seized 25,940 Cigarettes and 19.85kg of hand rolling tobacco from inside three cardboard boxes and behind the door of an unused fridge in a storage room, while more was found in a concealed area behind a wall.
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "Another huge pat on the back for our dedicated officers who work tirelessly to get these Closure Orders pushed through to send a warning to businesses to take their legal obligations seriously or face the ramifications.
"We also want to thank the public for their continued support in reporting in sales of illicit or counterfeit cigarettes to us.
"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.
"You can also report illegal tobacco sales quickly and anonymously by visiting the Keep it Out reporting website."
Inspector Andy Vickers, from Stockton's neighbourhood policing team, said: "It's great that we have been able to take positive action to close this premises down. This comes following the numerous complaints and information that has been provided to police and our partners over the sale of illicit tobacco.
"By reporting information like this, enables officers to build on that intelligence and working with our agencies to keep making a positive difference to our community."
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."
