A vape shop in Hammersmith has been closed by Hammersmith & Fulham Council – following the biggest seizure of illegal cigarettes in local history.
More than 60,000 cigarettes, packs of hand-rolling tobacco and boxes of dodgy disposable vapes were confiscated when officers from H&F Trading Standards visited the Milan Market shop in King Street.
Bogus details had been given to the owner of the premises when the vape business leased the shop.
The landlord has now changed the locks and thanked H&F Council for evicting the trader. "I'm very grateful to the council officers who empowered me to reclaim my shop," he said. "I'd have been unsure what to do without their advice."
Large quantities of snacks were also seized when the shop was shut down, and these have been donated to local foodbanks.
Shocked
Doug Love, a senior officer with H&F Trading Standards, said that he and a colleague had paid a routine visit to the shop, which had its windows blanked out with bright yellow posters.
They were shocked to discover shelves filled with illegal goods, including 60,000 counterfeit cigarettes and unapproved vapes which were also hidden around the shop. When questioned, a member of staff gave false identity details, and was unable to explain why the items were on sale.
"Investigations found that the retailer was part of a suspected organised crime group," said Mr Love. "It's important to show that such businesses are not welcome in our borough."
The cigarette seizure was the biggest in Hammersmith & Fulham's history, sending a clear message to anyone tempted to sell illegal tobacco and vape products, including hand-rolling tobacco packs where duty hasn't been paid. Officers took most of the shop's stock and the money in the till in case the business owner contacted them to claim it back.
Further checks revealed that the person named on the shop lease is also being investigated by Trading Standards officers in Lancashire.
Cllr Rebecca Harvey, H&F Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, praised the work of Trading Standards officers for helping keep borough residents safe.
I was delighted to see Trading Standards act to remove a business that was not only a clear threat to the public's health but also trading in vast quantities of illegal goods in the high street. This is part of our work to make H&F safer for everyone."
