Trading standards and police have closed yet another business for selling illegal tobacco – despite repeated warnings and dramatic attempts to escape with contraband.
On Wednesday, 26 November, District Judge Smith at Exeter Magistrates’ Court granted a three-month closure order on The Mini Market, 156 Cowick Street, Exeter.
The order follows a joint operation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service and Devon & Cornwall Police.
This is the 14th closure in six months, with previous shutdowns in Honiton, Exmouth, Plymouth, and Torquay.
The court heard the shop’s proprietor ignored repeated warnings, continuing to sell illegal tobacco worth over £11,000, seized during five separate raids. Officers described multiple attempts to flee with illicit goods:
- May: 436 packs of cigarettes and 89 pouches of tobacco seized from a man escaping through the rear entrance.
- August: Police intercepted a vehicle linked to the shop carrying more illegal tobacco.
- September: Another man caught fleeing with 168 packs of cigarettes and 28 pouches.
- Tuesday this week: A man found on the shop roof with two bags of illegal tobacco as the closure notice was served.
Judge Smith warned the proprietor that if the shop reopens after three months, it will be under “a very close eye.”
Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Trading Standards, said:
“Despite repeated warnings, this shop continued to sell illegal tobacco. Cheap, illicit products make it easier for children to start smoking and undermines legitimate businesses.”
Councillor Simon Clist, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, added:
“We support businesses that play by the rules. Those that break the law will be shut down – and we’ll keep working with police to make sure of it.”
Inspector Nathan Johnson from the Exeter Neighbourhood Police Team said:
“The diligence of the team, from the local Police Community Support Officer and Neighbourhood Beat Manager through to the legal department, has worked hard to address the harms caused by organised crime. We will continue to respond to information from the public, seek to protect those in Exeter and address organised criminality.”