Stockton town centre shop selling illegal cigarettes hit with closure order

Another shop has been closed in Stockton town centre as Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council continues to clamp down on illegal cigarette sales.

Azadis on Bowesfield Lane has been given a three-month closure order, which was secured by the Council at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, March 5.

This follows on from Tuesday's closure of the Toda Market on Hartington Road for selling illicit and counterfeit cigarettes.

The Court heard how complaints from the public and raised concerns from Cleveland Police were made regarding illegal cigarette sales.

And test purchases carried out by the Council's Trading Standards team found the cigarettes to not have the standardised packaging, failing to comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and the Trade Marks Act 1994.

The illicit cigarettes were also sold for £5, well below the usual market price.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "This is the second time this week where a Closure Order has been secured against a premises for the maximum period of three months following successful investigations around the sale of illegal cigarettes in our community.

"This not only highlights the tireless efforts of our Trading Standards officers to tackle these issues but also shows our residents that we will act swiftly on their concerns when they are presented to us.

"Investigations of these kind are very complex so, to have two successfully concluded this week alone, sends out a message to groups selling illegal cigarettes that we will seek to have you closed down.

"This also comes as we continue to work on 'Operation Shield' to ensure our town centres are welcoming places, where residents and visitors can enjoy spending time and businesses can flourish.

"Anyone concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes can contact our Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk."

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."