Stoke-on-Trent shop shut down after moving next door to evade closure order
Trading standards confiscated illegal items worth an estimated £109,091
A shop in Stoke-on-Trent which tried to dodge a closure order by moving next door has been shut down again for storing illegal tobacco.
Victoria Eastern European Food, 101 Church Street, was issued a closure notice in November, after illegal tobacco and vape products were found.
Trading Standards seized 7,023 packs of cigarettes, 401 packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and 484 illegal vapes.
Further investigations revealed that the business had moved door, to 97 Church Street, to avoid the first notice.
Inspections found 151 cigarette packs, six packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and a significant amount of expired food there.
The second property was also served with a closure notice.
The total retail value of the confiscated products was estimated at £109,091.