Council secures further closure as crackdown on illegal tobacco continues

Cheshire West and Chester Council has secured a further closure order, this time against premises in Neston, as part of its ongoing crackdown on the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products.

The closure order was granted on 4th June and requires King Vape Mini Market, High Street in Neston, to remain closed until 3 September 2026.

This latest action follows repeated illegal activity at the premises, involving multiple seizures in May and a series of test purchases carried out by officers. Intelligence gathered between November 2025 and May 2026 confirmed the continued sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco from the shop.

Officers also uncovered sophisticated attempts to conceal illegal goods during enforcement visits, including cigarettes hidden within a void behind kitchen units and further stock stored in bags and boxes across the premises.

The Council has used closure powers against a number of premises in recent months as part of its efforts to disrupt the illegal tobacco and vape trade and protect local communities.

Closure orders are used to prevent businesses from continuing to engage in illegal activity where repeated enforcement action has failed to secure compliance.

The Council’s Director of Environment and Communities, Maria Byrne said:

“This is a further example of the decisive action we are taking to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes.

“In this case, despite repeated enforcement activity, illegal products continued to be sold and deliberately concealed. This type of persistent offending will not be tolerated.

“Illegal tobacco and vapes undermine legitimate businesses, support wider criminal activity and pose serious risks to public health. We will continue to use all available powers to disrupt this activity and protect our communities.”

The Council continues to work closely with partner agencies to identify and take action against premises involved in the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products.

Residents are encouraged to report concerns about illegal sales to the Council.

Pictured - The King Vape Mini Market, High Street in Neston.