A shop has been forced to close after being caught selling illicit cigarettes on four separate occasions.

Durham County Council secured a three-month closure order of the UK Mini Market store, on Park Road in South Moor, at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that trading standards officers carried out a series of test purchases after being made aware of community concerns about the sale of illicit products from the shop.

The four test purchases took place between September last year and May this year, with officers being sold illicit cigarettes on each occasion.

During this time, officers’ attention turned to establishing where the illicit products were being stored.

And they got their answer in June when carrying out an inspection of the shop alongside a search of the upstairs flat, with support from Durham Constabulary.

Officers seized 39 packets of illicit cigarettes and 35 pouches of hand rolling tobacco from the flat, along with 342 illegal vapes with oversized tanks.

A further 123 illegal vapes with oversized tanks were seized from behind the shop’s counter, with the total retail value of the haul coming to £5,600.

Some of the goods seized are suspected to be counterfeit, and many did not contain the legally required health warnings. A related criminal investigation is ongoing.

Gary Carr, Durham County Council’s strategic regulation manager, said: “Our trading standards officers have been tenacious in their investigations to secure this three-month closure order, which is the maximum the magistrates can impose.

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“Selling illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime but those responsible care little about the harm they’re causing. They’re only interested in making money.

“This illegal activity is a real nuisance in our communities. It can make smoking more accessible to children and damages those honest and law-abiding local businesses that operate legitimately.

“That’s why we work with partner agencies to crack down on it. Local people can help us by reporting any sales of illicit tobacco or vape products to us so we can take the necessary action.”