We’ve been working with the police to stamp out the sale of illegal tobacco and as a result two shops in Exmouth have been shut down for three months.
Exeter Magistrates Court granted three-month closure orders on the International Mini Market on The Strand and the European Shop on the town’s Parade following an application by Devon and Cornwall Police.
On Wednesday officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service and Devon and Cornwall Police served the closure notices on both shops after previous inspections had revealed stashes of illegal tobacco products.
Over the past 10 months counterfeit and other Illegal tobacco products where duty had not been paid, illegal vapes and ‘non legal market’ products – ‘branded’ products created for the express purpose of selling on the black-market – had been found by tobacco detection dogs.
Inspections at both premises discovered illegal tobacco producrts intentionally concealed in specially designed secret compartments.
Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service 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.
“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.”
Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council’s cabinet member responsible for trading Standards said:
“The closures have been welcomed by many local people and demonstrate the continued close working relationship between trading standards and the police.
“We will support businesses that play by the rules but in this case both businesses were persistent offenders. Cheap tobacco encourages young people to start smoking and the proceeds are often used by organised crime groups to raise funds for their criminal activity.”
Inspector Mat Helm heads up the neighbourhood policing team in Exmouth. He said:
“My team has worked incredibly hard over the last 12 months and alongside trading standards we have carried out several searches and seized cash linked to criminality and illegal tobacco products with a value of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“Profits from criminal enterprises are often linked to organised crime. These shops have persistently stocked and sold illegal cigarettes and vapes, so we are pleased to get these closure orders in place.
“By taking unregulated, counterfeit products off of the streets, we’re able to protect our communities as well as disrupt a wider network of criminal activity that can include the exploitation of vulnerable people.”