Trading Standards teams across the UK have cracked down on stores selling illicit tobacco and vape products.
In Stockton-on-Tees, Station Road Convenience Store on Station Road, Billingham, was been given a three-month closure order, which was secured by the Council at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Test purchases carried out by the Council’s Trading Standards Team confirmed cigarettes sold at the premises failed to comply with the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and the Trade Marks Act 1994.
The illicit cigarettes were being sold for £5, well below the usual market price of cigarettes.
Trading Standards officers, with support from Cleveland Police and a tobacco detection dog and handler, also seized 5340 illegal cigarettes and 40 x 50g packets of illicit tobacco from a concealment within a section of a brick wall that had been precisely cut to resemble a small door. Officers also seized 120 single use vapes which are prohibited for sale under The Environmental Protection (Single use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 which came into place June 1, 2025.
This work was carried out as part of Operation Cece, which is run in partnership with the National Trading Standards and HMRC to help tackle the sales of illicit tobacco.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.
“Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”
Meanwhile, in Lancashire, Rossendale Neighbourhood Policing Team secured a Closure Order for the European Mini Market on Manchester Road, Haslingden.
This action was the result of a joint operation between Lancashire Police and Trading Standards, targeting the ongoing concern and supply of illegal and illicit tobacco, cigarettes, vapes, and e-cigarettes.
Four joint inspections have taken place at the premises, resulting in the seizure of illicit products valued at over £30,000. The application for the Closure Order was supported by evidence provided by the local community.
On Wednesday 15 October 2025 Burnley Magistrates Court granted a Closure Order for a period of three months, the maximum length available, effectively prohibiting access to the property during this time.
Essex Police also carried a series of raids which lead to the seizure of illegal vapes and tobacco worth over £60,000 seized from local businesses
Working with Trading Standards, Border Force and HMRC as part of Operation Machinize, a national operation targeting cash-based money laundering and the illegal trade in tobacco and vapes.
In the last fortnight, it identified and targeted businesses in Clacton, Colchester, Harlow, Chelmsford, Basildon, Braintree, Witham, Harwich, Thorpe-le-Soken, Walton-on-the-Naze and Jaywick.
This lead to officers and partners attending four premises in Clacton simultaneously, uncovering hundreds of packs of cigarettes, tobacco and vapes in hidden compartments and a bin in order to avoid detection.
Then, at premises across the Braintree district on 15 October, officers found more of the same goods from two businesses, as well as a vehicle filled with illegal cigarettes which was also seized.
This work has led to the seizure of:
- 98,500 cigarettes
- 47.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco
- 3,141 vapes
The total value of all these goods is estimated at just over £60,000 – as well as another £6,000 cash seized by officers believed to be connected to criminality.
Commenting on the Essex raids, detective chief Inspector Terry Balding said: “This sends a clear message to criminals: those exploiting legitimate businesses for illegal gain will be found and prosecuted.
“Our work with partners on disrupting organised crime in this way goes on year-round, identifying the groups and where they may seek to launder their money and hide their offending. More than 80% of the premises visited had issues regarding the sale of these illegal products – with the further intelligence we’ve gathered that number will only increase.
“It’s a constantly developing intelligence picture, and it’s only by working together, with the support of the National Crime Agency, that we can find those further up the chain and make them face justice.”
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