Businesses in Stoke-on-Trent are being warned they risk losing their premises and facing criminal charges if they sell illegal tobacco or vapes, particularly to underage customers.
The warning follows the latest major seizure by Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Trading Standards team, who recovered £671,000 worth of illegal goods from a storage facility in Etruria. The haul included more than 638,000 cigarettes, 108kg of hand-rolling tobacco, and over 1,200 vapes, believed to be destined for local shops.
This action forms part of Operation CeCe, a national crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade led by HMRC and National Trading Standards.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, environment and sustainability, said: “This is serious organised crime. These goods end up in shops that will sell to anyone, including children. We’re committed to protecting communities and legitimate businesses who follow the law.”
Since April, the council has stepped up enforcement using premises closure orders, shifting away from individual prosecutions. Shops repeatedly found selling illegal or underage products now face 48-hour closure notices followed by Magistrates Court orders to shut for three months.
So far this year, five premises have been formally closed and three more have shut voluntarily after landlords evicted tenants. Over £90,000 of illegal products have been seized in these operations alone.
The consequences for individuals remain severe. In one recent case, following an underage vape sale in November 2024, a shopkeeper was sentenced at Crown Court to an eight-month suspended prison term, 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
In addition, since the nationwide ban on single-use vapes came into force on 1 June 2025, nine businesses in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued £200 fines for continuing to sell them.
Businesses are urged to check their stock and their supply chains, and to ensure staff are fully trained on age-restricted sales. Those with concerns or information should contact Trading Standards on 01782 238884 or visit www.stoke.gov.uk/tradingstandards.
