More illegal traders ordered to close
The heat is being turned up on shops and their owners in Wirral who continue to sell illegal or counterfeit goods.
The number of closure orders granted by the courts over the last six months now stands at 15 following further action taken by Wirral Trading Standards, in partnership with Merseyside Police, which resulted in three more premises being closed for an initial three months.
On top of the 15 first time orders there have also been applications for extensions to existing closure orders, with the latest seeing two shops owned by the same businessman ordered to remain closed until the end of July, after initially being closed in February.
Our Trading Standards service is absolutely committed to tackling anyone involved in these illegal operations, working alongside the police and acting on information and intelligence received.
It is vital that we find and seize these goods to get them off the market and ultimately bring offenders to justice. These cut-price and unregulated products carry additional risks to consumers and are more accessible to underage customers - significantly undermining public health’s efforts around tobacco control and cessation.
There are clear links between the illicit trade of cigarettes and wider organised crime and, of course, sales of illegal items have an adverse effect on the profits of other shops who do operate within the laws and regulations.
The extension to closure orders were granted at the end of April and relate to Hoylake Mini Market on Hoylake Road, Moreton, and 7 Days 3D Store on Poulton Road, Wallasey. Both premises were originally closed in February 2026.
Trading Standards officers outlined long-running concerns about the supply of illegal tobacco from the premises, describing activity spanning several years. The operation was said to involve sophisticated concealment methods, including hidden compartments built into floors, ceilings and furniture. Some of these “hides” were reportedly secured using electromagnets wired into the buildings’ electrical systems.
At the 7 Days 3D Store, officers also raised concerns about the electrical supply, which had been tampered with or deliberately disabled.
The court heard evidence challenging Salah’s previous claims that he was not directly involved in running the businesses. Trading Standards officers had recovered invoices from a local wholesaler showing that, during the period in question, Salah had purchased more than £220,000 worth of stock, including food, soft drinks and small quantities of legitimate tobacco products.
It was further revealed that Salah only paid £3,000 in legal costs from the original February closure hearing the night before the extension applications were heard.
Under cross-examination, Trading Standards described the operation as “indicative of organised criminality” and told the court Salah was believed to be a key figure in the illegal tobacco trade within the borough. Officers argued that extending the closure orders was “absolutely necessary” to protect the public and support legitimate businesses.
Magistrates agreed, ruling that the extensions were required to prevent further criminal activity and public nuisance. The closure orders will now remain in place until 30 July 2026. Salah was also ordered to pay a further £750 in costs following his unsuccessful challenge.
The latest first-time closure orders involved two shops in New Ferry where thousands of illegal cigarettes and large quantities of illicit tobacco were seized by enforcement officers.
Wirral Magistrates’ Court granted closure orders for Wirral Convenience Store on Bebington Road and AK2 Convenience Store on New Chester Road at a hearing on 14 May 2026. Trading Standards officers linked both premises to the same tenant, Adam Mohamed, who is the sole director of companies registered at each address.
The investigation began after intelligence suggested illegal tobacco was being supplied from Wirral Convenience Store. During an inspection on 27 April, officers observed suspicious activity on the shop’s CCTV, showing a man leaving via the rear of the premises and placing a holdall into a nearby vehicle.
Police later confirmed the vehicle was registered to Mohamed. When it was eventually searched, officers discovered two bags containing 3,760 illegal cigarettes and 2.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco. The products were seized and the vehicle recovered by police.
A second operation at AK2 Convenience Store on 5 May uncovered further evidence. Although no illegal tobacco was found inside the shop, officers located a key which led them to a neighbouring yard. Inside an unsecured storage cabinet, they found a further 3,480 cigarettes and 0.95kg of illicit tobacco, some concealed in a holdall.
In total, officers seized more than 7,000 cigarettes and 3.45kg of hand-rolling tobacco across both locations. The haul included a mixture of counterfeit goods and non-compliant “cheap white” products. Trading Standards estimate the illicit street value at around £2,845, rising to more than £8,500 if sold legally.
Closure notices were served on both premises on 12 May, with officers citing ongoing concerns about criminal activity, public nuisance and risks to public health.
Magistrates granted a three-month closure order, stating they were satisfied the action was necessary to prevent further disorder and illegal trading linked to the shops.
The application was not contested, and the court awarded costs of approximately £1,700 to the council.
A shop in Wallasey was also shut down for three months at the end of April following the discovery of counterfeit and illicit tobacco products.
Mr Blue Vape Shop, located at 136 Borough Road, had only been open a matter of days before Trading Standards received a complaint alleging the sale of illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Test purchases carried out on 15 and 20 April confirmed the concerns.
Further investigations revealed links between the suspected operator, Rahand Dana Ali, and previous incidents involving illegal tobacco sales in Newport, Wales. Evidence supplied by Newport Trading Standards indicated that products had previously been seized from Mr Ali, with shops connected to him also subject to closure orders.
On 28 April, Trading Standards officers, supported by Merseyside Police, carried out an inspection of the premises. Officers recovered 200 cigarettes and 0.3kg of hand-rolling tobacco, hidden inside a plastic stool behind the counter. The haul included counterfeit goods and so-called “cheap whites,” which breach UK packaging and tobacco regulations.
During the visit, officers also identified imported soft drinks that failed to meet UK labelling requirements and discovered there were no age-restricted sales policies or procedures in place.
Neither the business operator nor the property owner attended court to contest the application for closure when it came to court on 30 April. Magistrates granted the closure order, stating they were satisfied it was necessary to prevent further public nuisance and criminal activity at the site.
Successful court actions such as these are only possible due to the hard work and professionalism of Trading Standards officers, the council’s legal team and Merseyside Police – as individuals and working in partnership. It is also only possible due to information and intelligence provided by members of the public.
If you know or have suspicions or illegal activity, you can report it anonymously using Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
