Businesses closed after thousands of pounds' worth of illegal cigarettes seized

Some of the items seized

We secured closure orders for European Mini Market, on Church Street, and Ardo's Barbers, of Adelaide Row, in Seaham.

Peterlee Magistrates' Court heard that our community protection team carried out an inspection of European Mini Market following a test purchase of two packets of illicit cigarettes.

Fire escape passage

No illegal products were found at the shop, however officers found that the premises was linked to Ardo's Barbers by a fire escape passage.

Officers carried out an inspection of Ardo's Barbers later that day, where 420 non-compliant vapes and a small number of packs of cigarettes, valued at around £5,539 in total, were seized.

The products were confirmed to have been stored on behalf of European Mini Market, which prompted an immediate revisit to the shop, where a bag and suitcase containing further illicit cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and vapes totalling £2,157 in value were seized.

Magistrates granted the closure order on the grounds of causing a nuisance to the local community and the businesses were ordered to pay £1,709 each in costs.

Significant impact

Joanne Waller, our head of community protection, said: "The sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco products has a significant impact on the community. It poses a serious health risk to people and makes it easier for young people to purchase illicit products. It also has a financial impact on other businesses in the area which are compliant with the law.

"This order shows that retailers who flout the law by selling illicit products will face a visit from our officers and they can face closure and court action."