Devon trading trading standards service continues to work closely with the police together to stamp out the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes – and this week five more shops were closed down.
Four of the shops are in Torbay and one is in Devon, and it follows the closure of two shops in Exmouth last month.
The shops were closed down for three months each following a joint operation by Devon & Cornwall Police and Heart of the South West Trading Standards.
Plymouth Magistrates Court granted the closure orders at a hearing on Thursday 17 July, following an application by Devon & Cornwall Police.
The three-month closure orders can be extended if necessary.
All the shops had previously been warned about what they were selling – and continued to trade illegally regardless.
Police and trading standards officers jointly served the closure notices after previous inspections had revealed stashes of illegal products.
The hidden items were found with the help of specialist detection dogs.
The closed shops are:
American shop, 140 Union Street, Torquay
Palace Mini Market, 36 Palace Ave, Paignton
Tower Store, 10a Torquay Road, Paignton
Paignton Express, 40 Victoria Street, Paignton
Karina Store, 122 High Street, Honiton
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