Shop gets closure order over illegal tobacco sales

A vape shop in Wiltshire has been issued with a second closure order after selling illegal tobacco.

Number 7 Bank Street, Melksham, previously the Milksham Vape and Shop, was ordered to close for three months in December following a number of complaints, several seizures of illegal tobacco and vapes, plus test purchases of illegal products. Stock was also seized in November by police.

When the business reopened on 10 March after the first order expired, Trading Standards officers were able to purchase two packs of counterfeit cigarettes, prompting the application for the latest closure order.

The order was granted at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Anybody who enters the premises unauthorised while the closure was in place could be sentenced to 51 weeks imprisonment and/or fined, Wiltshire Council said.

Parvis Khansari, from the council, said: "Our Trading Standards team is working very hard to tackle illegal sales in Wiltshire and this is an excellent result for the team, who have acted quickly to obtain another closure order for this business.

"It is concerning and very disappointing that despite already being served and complying with the original closure order, the business is still facilitating sales of illegal tobacco on the premises."

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