Two more shops close for illegal trade in tobacco and vapes

Two more shops, both in Taunton, have closed after Trading Standards officers and Police found illegal tobacco and vapes on their premises.

The shops are:

• Taunton Market, 80 Station Road, Taunton
• Top Market, 73 Station Road, Taunton

Both have been the subject of test purchases and visits since July by Trading Standards officers, Police, and tobacco detection dogs.

Illegal tobacco and vapes have been taken from both premises.  In July, 12,000 cigarettes, 2.5kg of tobacco and almost 1,000 vapes were discovered in a rear room at Top Market, accessed via a concealed door in the wall display panelling.

A revisit just two months later revealed further illegal products being kept in the same room.

The seized products have a street value of over £20,000.

And at Taunton Market in July, over 35,000 cigarettes, 6.5kg of tobacco and 540 vapes were seized from the associated flat. And in September, a vehicle linked with the premises was intercepted delivering tobacco products to the shop and 10,260 cigarettes, 2.5kg of tobacco and 84 vapes were seized. In total, seizures associated with Taunton Market were estimated to have a street value of almost £30,000.

In both cases, Taunton Magistrates were satisfied that the closure of the retail and associated residential premises was necessary to prevent further criminal activity from taking place in relation to the sale of illegal tobacco.

Alex Fry, Operations Manager, Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, said:

“We are pleased to have worked with Avon and Somerset Police as part of this operation.

“Combatting the supply of illegal tobacco and vapes is a high priority for us.

“By taking these products off the streets, we’re able to help protect our communities as well as supporting those businesses on the high street that trade legally.”