Stockton vape shop handed three-month closure order

A Stockton shop has been closed for selling illicit and counterfeit cigarettes.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council secured a three-month Closure Order for Teesside Vape at 65 Bishopton Lane, Stockton, at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 21.

The Court heard how complaints had been made from the public regarding illicit tobacco sales and underage sales.

Test purchases carried out by the Council's Trading Standards Team, 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 illicit cigarettes were also sold for £5, well below the usual market price of cigarettes, while a vape was also purchased during an underage sales test purchase.

Trading Standards officers, with support from Cleveland Police, a tobacco detection dog and handler, seized 8,840 illegal cigarettes and 36 pouches of illicit tobacco from a hidden room, where a male passed tobacco to staff through a ceiling tile from a raised platform.

On a second visit, a further 2,260 cigarettes and 11 pouches of tobacco were seized from inside a cardboard box hidden under a coat in another room away from the shop floor.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "Well done to the Trading Standards team for their perseverance in securing this closure order.

"Also a big thanks to our partners from Cleveland Police in assisting us for this closure order.

"It is another strong message to businesses who think that they can break their legal obligations and get away with it, that we will always find a way to ensure they face the consequences.

"I'd also like to encourage local people to keep reporting any sales of illicit or counterfeit tobacco and single use vapes to us, so we can take the necessary action.

"Anyone concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes 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."

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.

Inspector Andy Vickers, of Stockton Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Illicit cigarettes and tobacco products are often associated with other types of crime, so it's good news that this shop has now been closed.

"Working alongside partners and listening to members of the public has enabled us to act upon the information and reports we have received on the activity in this shop.

"We would encourage people to continue reporting such activity to us."

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: "The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.

"Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."