Shops caught selling illegal cigarettes and vapes in Exmouth, including to children, have been ordered by the court to shut down for three months.
Police last week teamed up with Trading Standards amid a sting in Exmouth, giving notice to the European Shop, on The Parade, and the International Mini Market, in The Strand.
Magistrates at Exeter slapped both shops with a three-month trading ban, ordering them to close, after the premises were found selling counterfeit tobacco and illegal vapes to kids.
The notice on the front door to the European Shop, in The Strand, Exmouth.
Photo: D&C Police.
Officers seized illegal and counterfeit tobacco products and vapes, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, plus cash from the two shops.
A police probe and sting on both premises was the result of the public reporting concerns about the shops.
Detection dogs were used to sniff out any stashed illegal tobacco hidden inside the shops.
The European Shop with the closure notice on the door, tells of the court order amid ‘criminal activity’ at the premises.
Photo: D&C Police.
Inspector Mat Helm, at Exmouth neighbourhood police, said: “These shops have persistently stocked and sold illegal cigarettes and vapes, so we are pleased to get these closure orders in place to prevent further sales of potentially dangerous tobacco and vape products.
“Profits from criminal enterprises are often linked to organised crime groups. So, by taking them off of the streets, we’re able to protect our communities from unregulated products while also disrupting a wider network of criminal activity that can include the exploitation of vulnerable people.”
He added: “I’d like to thank members of the public who reported concerns to us. The information we receive in the form of intelligence really does make a difference in our investigations and I’d encourage anyone with concerns about businesses that may be operating illegally to contact us.”
Alex Fry, Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service operations manager, said: “We use detection dogs as we are finding that criminals are using increasingly elaborate methods to hide illegal tobacco, such as behind specially constructed hidden panels and in ceilings above insulation tiles.
“But regardless of where it is hidden the dogs can sniff out even small quantities of tobacco.”
He added: “This is a great example of how we have worked with our partners in Devon and Cornwall Police to act on intelligence and target unscrupulous sellers.”
Last week police and Trading Standards served closure notices on both shops.
The following day the court slapped a three-month closure order on both premises after police and Trading Standards gathered a host of evidence of illegal tobacco sales, including selling to kids.
A force spokesperson said: “On Wednesday 25 June, Devon & Cornwall Police worked with Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service to serve 48-hour closure notices to International Mini Market and European Shop.
“Exeter Magistrates Court granted full closure orders on Thursday 26 June, and the shops must now cease trading for three months.
“Under Section 80 of Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Devon and Cornwall Police submitted the closure order applications to the court after Officers from the Exmouth Neighbourhood team and Trading Standards officers supplied evidence of illegal tobacco sales at both premises.
“The application was supported by evidence that the shops had been selling illegal vapes, and supplying vapes to children under the age of 18 following test purchase operations carried out over the last 12 months.
“Since the start of the operation, officers have seized illegal and counterfeit tobacco products, vapes and cash from the two shops, expected to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
