Shop shut down for selling counterfeit cigarettes

A Thornaby shop has been closed for selling illicit and counterfeit cigarettes to customers.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council secured a three-month closure order of the store, at 103 Westbury Street, at Teesside Magistrates' Court today (20 October).

The Court heard that several complaints were made to the Council about counterfeit products being sold. 

Several test purchases by the Council's Trading Standards officers confirmed illicit cigarettes were being sold from the shop which did not comply with tobacco labelling regulations.

On each occasion the shopkeeper retrieved the cigarettes from a rear storage room where they were hidden out of sight.

Despite the business operator being warned about criminal activity at the store, further test purchases were made of illicit tobacco and more complaints received from local residents, the court was told.  

Councillor Norma Stephenson, the Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "Counterfeit cigarettes pose a big risk to communities because it's very difficult to know what is in them and it's incredibly worrying that such cigarettes are being sold to people.

"I'm pleased our Trading Standards officers have been able to secure the maximum closure order of three months. I'd like to thank them for their hard work and also thank the local residents who refused to put up with these criminal activities on their doorstep.

"This closure order once again shows we will not hesitate to take action to stop the sale of illicit and counterfeit tobacco. I'd also encourage local people to report any sales of illicit tobacco to us so we can take the necessary action."

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 of 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."

Anyone with information on the supply of illicit tobacco from any business or residential premises in the Borough is urged to contact Trading Standards on 01642 526560 or email trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk.

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