Essex shop forced to shut for selling illegal tobacco
An Essex shop, Shelby Vapes, was forced to close for three months after repeatedly selling illegal tobacco and vaping products.Summary
Shelby Vapes, located in Grays, Essex, has been shut down for three months by order of Southend Magistrates Court due to the continued sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products despite prior enforcement actions. Trading Standards officers, aided by Essex Police and tobacco detection dogs, seized illegal goods on October 20th, and subsequent test purchases confirmed ongoing illegal sales. Councillor Lynda Heath emphasized the council’s commitment to tackling rogue businesses involved in the illegal tobacco trade, highlighting its connection to organized crime and harm to public health. The shop had previously been operating under a different company name, Shelbys 2020 Limited, which was dissolved after a large seizure of illegal products earlier in the year, but continued illegal sales under a new company, Shelby’s 3030 LTD. This action is part of Operation CeCe, a national initiative that has seized millions of illegal tobacco products since 2021.
(Source：Southend Echo)
