Salisbury vape shop ordered to close after repeated illegal tobacco offences
Closure Order granted for Greenland on Fisherton Street
A Salisbury vape shop has been ordered to close for three months following illegal tobacco offences, as Wiltshire Council successfully secured a Closure Order.
Greenland is located at 106 Fisherton Street and Salisbury Magistrates’ Court granted the order on 23rd October after hearing evidence from the council's Trading Standards officers that the shop repeatedly stored and sold illicit tobacco.
The Closure Order restricts entry to named residents and authorised personnel only, with unauthorised entry constituting a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment or fines.
Earlier investigations linked the premises to individuals suspected of involvement in the illicit tobacco trade, resulting in several inspections and test purchase operations between July and October.
A search on 29th September, supported by Wiltshire Police and a tobacco detection dog, uncovered concealed stocks of illegal tobacco products.
Officers seized suspected counterfeit cigarettes, duty-evaded tobacco, and prohibited shisha products.
Despite significant enforcement action, illegal sales continued, necessitating the Closure Order for public protection.
Cllr Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: "The illegal tobacco trade harms legitimate businesses, reduces vital tax revenue and is often linked to wider criminal activity. Businesses that choose to ignore the law and profit from the sale of illegal tobacco should be in no doubt that we will take robust enforcement action."
Illegal tobacco products are often sold at reduced prices due to unpaid duty and may lack essential safety standards.