A County Durham shop has been forced to close for three months after thousands of pounds worth of illegal cigarettes, vapes, and tobacco were discovered on the premises.

Top Store in Framwellgate Moor, near Durham City has been shut down after Durham County Council successfully applied to the courts for a Closure Order. 

Magistrates in Peterlee heard the council’s Trading Standards team, together with officers from Durham Constabulary, executed a warrant of entry at the shop and an associated vehicle following a tip-off from a member of the public.

During the search, the officers seized 9,220 illegal cigarettes, 4.9kg of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco, and 581 non-compliant disposable electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vapes. In total, the seized goods have an illicit market value of £10,104.00.

(Image: Durham County Council)

The court granted a three-month Closure Order on the premises, meaning Top Store must remain closed until 11.59pm on Wednesday 29 January 2025.

Towards the end of this period, the business will be re-inspected. If concerns about compliance still exist, the council will consider if there are grounds to seek an extension of the Closure Order for a further three months.

Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s head of community protection, said: “Illegal tobacco might not seem like a big deal, but it brings crime and health problems into our communities, often fuelling human trafficking, the drugs trade and loan shark.

"It also makes it easier for children to get hold of cheap tobacco and has an impact on compliant businesses.

“We hope this closure acts as a warning to other businesses that we will not tolerate the trade of illegal tobacco in County Durham. We will continue to investigate these cases and further action will be taken if necessary.”

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.

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“Having removed 19 million illegal cigarettes and 5,103kg of hand rolling tobacco in 2023-24, Operation CeCe - a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC – has taken £27.2 million pounds worth of illicit tobacco off the market since the operation launched in 2021 and continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”

Members of the public with any information on the suspected sale of illegal items are urged to report it by calling the illegal tobacco hotline on 0300 999 0000.

For advice and support to quit smoking, call 0800 722 0565 or visit www.smokefreecountydurham.co.uk.