Three shops closed and illegal cigarettes seized following partnership operation in Ellesmere Port

Three shops are set to be shut down and thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit cigarettes and vapes have been seized, following a partnership operation in Ellesmere Port.

On Thursday 3rd September, officers from the Cheshire Police Western Exploitation Team were joined by colleagues from Trading Standards when they visited businesses in Ellesmere Port, supported by a specialist tobacco detection dog.

Four business premises were visited during the operation, all of which were suspected of being linked to organised immigration crime and the supply of illicit tobacco and illegal vaping products.

During the operation, officers identified sophisticated concealment methods designed to hide illegal goods. Several of these hidden compartments were located with the assistance of the tobacco detection dog, demonstrating the value of specialist resources in tackling criminal activity.

As a result of the enforcement activity, approximately 18,000 illicit cigarettes were seized, along with almost 500 illegal vapes.

In addition, Trading Standards have issued three closure orders at the following stores:

• Stop and Shop, Unit 3, 406 Chester Road, Little Sutton
• Vaporesso, 46 Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port
• Quick Stop Vapes, 17 Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port

The orders are set to begin on Monday 7th September, when all three shops will be closed down for a minimum period of three months.

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised criminality, protect legitimate businesses, and safeguard local communities from the harms associated with the illicit tobacco and vape trade.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Manson said:

"The sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vaping products often goes hand in hand with wider organised criminality.

“By working closely with our partners at Trading Standards and using specialist resources, we have been able to identify and disrupt this activity, seize illegal products, and take positive action against those involved.

“We will continue to act on intelligence from our communities to target criminal enterprises operating across Cheshire."