Honiton shop ordered to close for selling illegal tobacco
A shop has been ordered to close for three months after counterfeit tobacco was seized from the premises.
On Tuesday 15 July, Devon & Cornwall Police worked with Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service to serve a 48-hour closure notice to Karina Store in Honiton.
Plymouth Magistrates Court granted a full closure order on Thursday 17 July, and the shop must now cease trading for three months.
Four shops in South Devon were also issued with three-month closure orders:- Palace Mini Market, Tower Store and Paignton Express all located in Paignton and American shop in Torquay.
Neighbourhood Beat Manager for Honiton, Craig Amarilli, said: “Over the last three weeks, officers have visited Karina Store alongside Trading Standards on two occasions; seizing cash and a quantity of illicit tobacco.
“I’d like to thank members of the local community who reported concerns about the shop to us. This information allowed us to build a detailed intelligence picture, and we were able to take swift action; securing a closure order within just 13 days and preventing further sales of potentially dangerous tobacco and vape products.
“Profits from criminal enterprises are often linked to organised crime groups. By taking them off of the streets, we’re able to protect our communities from unregulated products while also disrupting a wider network of criminal activity that can include the exploitation of vulnerable people.”
Police and partners have secured a total of 29 closure orders (commercial and residential) across Torquay, Newton, Exeter and surrounding areas of South Devon since September last year.
Alex Fry, Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service’s Operations Manager, added: “We will support businesses that play by the rules but we have had issues with all five of these businesses with respect to illegal tobacco products and now they are unable to trade for three months.
“Each of the businesses hid the products they were selling and two of the businesses, specifically built places to conceal the products. However, our use of detection dogs ensures that these products don’t stay hidden for long.
“This is a great example of how we have worked with our partners in Devon and Cornwall Police to act on intelligence and target unscrupulous sellers.”
To report concerns of counterfeit goods, contact Trading Standards via email: tradingstandards@devon.gov.uk or phone 01392 383000.
To report concerns of businesses engaging in illegal activity or to log non-urgent crimes happening in your area, please visit the force website or call 101.
Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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