A Loughborough shop which was found to be selling counterfeit cigarettes has been closed for three months.
International Supermarket, in Meadow Lane, must close for three months under the terms of an order granted at Leicester Magistrates’ Court.
The application was made after officers from the Charnwood Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) and council’s trading standards team executed a series of warrants in which counterfeit cigarettes were recovered. The closure order was granted under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and prevents anyone from entering the address. Anyone who breaches it is liable to be prosecuted.
Inspector David Stokes, from the Charnwood NPA, said: “We know that money raised from the sale of counterfeit items – including cigarettes – is often used to fund organised crime and other illicit activities. Working alongside our colleagues from Leicestershire County Council, I’m pleased that we’ve been able to close this shop and prevent further sales from being made.
“I hope those living in our community feel reassured by the action we’ve taken and will continue to support us by making us aware of any issues or concerns.”
Gary Connors, head of Leicestershire Trading Standards service, said: “Selling cheap or illicit cigarettes steals trade from our legitimate retailers who lose trade to rogue shopkeepers. All smoking is dangerous, but smoking illegal tobacco could potentially be even more harmful to health because the trade in counterfeit and illicit tobacco is unregulated, so there is no control over what is mixed with the tobacco. Illicit cigarettes often pose a risk of fire as they do not go out when left unattended.
“We will continue to clamp down on the sale of illicit cigarettes to protect Leicestershire residents from traders who break the law.
“We really appreciate members of the public reporting suspicions of illicit or cheap cigarettes and tobacco sales. This can be done anonymously on https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards/report-a-trading-standards-issue/online-reporting-form”
