Gainsborough shop caught selling counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes
The shop has been issued with a closure order after Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards and West Lindsey District Council Officers carried out test purchases and raided the premises.
A popular shop in Gainsborough has been issued with a closure order after they were caught selling illegal vapes and counterfeit cigarettes.
The Toy Store at 114 Trinity Street, Gainsborough was visited by Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards and West Lindsey District Council Officers after they conducted test purchases.
The Gainsborough shop was caught selling legal vapes to a 16=year-old child as part of the operation. A large quantity of illegal vapes were discovered during a raid on the property.
A closure order was granted by Lincoln magistrates on March 1st which means the shop will not be allowed to open until May 29th.
Coun Trevor Young, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “The council aims to make the district a safe and vibrant place to live, work and socialise. One of the ways to support legitimate businesses is by targeting those involved in criminal activity.
“Shops selling dangerous and illegal products contribute nothing to the local community or economy and this sort of activity will be met head on.
“Agencies working together, sharing information, pooling resources and skills means we can make the maximum impact. It is important that we take joint action to stop businesses trading illegally. Criminal activity will never be acceptable.”
Kim Enderby, senior licensing and community safety officer for West Lindsey District Council, said: “All agencies involved had received intelligence that this store was involved in the sale of illicit cigarettes. Officers carried out a test purchase operation and were able to purchase illegal cigarettes in the store.
“Following this, the store was raided by Lincolnshire Trading Standards officers accompanied by officers and Lincolnshire Police, where a large quantity of illegal cigarettes was seized.
“In further raids more cigarettes and illegal vapes were also recovered.”
Local parents have called for more action on local business selling cigarettes and vapes to children. One parent who did not wished to be named told Lincolnshire News Today that the Toy Store should have been closed for good.
She said: “Closing a store that sells counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes to children should be forced to closed and not be allowed to re-open. Closing it for a few months is a joke. Shops like these will open again and will not learn their lesion.”
The selling of illegal vapes has become a huge problem around the Lincolnshire area. There have been a number of shops caught selling these products.
