Illegal products found under loo in closed-down shop

A shop has been ordered to close temporarily after illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco were found on the premises, with some products hidden under a toilet.

Large volumes of illegal and potentially dangerous goods were discovered at the Drake Street Food Store, also known as Polski Sklep, in Rochdale, during undercover visits, the local authority said.

The shop was also found to have sold foods not labelled in English and toys that did not meet safety standards, it added.

A Rochdale Council spokesperson said that since June 2024, they had seized more than 33,000 fake cigarettes and 26kg of hand-rolled tobacco during a series of undercover visits there.

The authority's deputy leader and portfolio holder for climate change and environment, Tricia Ayrton, said: "Our efforts to take these illegal products off our streets really uncover the extent these criminals will go to, to supply fake cigarettes and other items to their customers – not least concealing them in a hole under a toilet of all places."

She said the people running the business "clearly" believed "they were above the law which is why we have been left with no alternative but to shut them down".

Insp Meena Yasin, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "This closure order represents our work with trading standards to use enforcement legislation on business premises."

A closure order was granted at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after the council argued the illegal activity was likely to continue unless the business was closed.

It will remain shut for a total of three months, which is the maximum period of time enforceable under the terms of the closure application.

Cigarettes in fake packaging were found to have been sold well below standard prices at £4 and £5, with illegal tobacco products also found concealed inside the store, in a commercial bin at the rear of the property and in nearby parked cars.

Several warnings were given to the director of the business, the property's landlords and shop staff, but they had continued to sell illegal goods from the premises at 138a Drake Street, the council said.

Anyone who is aware of illicit tobacco or any other illegal items on sale at a local business is asked to contact Rochdale Council's trading standards team.

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