Shops hit with closure orders after seizures of illegal goods
The continued determination of officers from Wirral Trading Standards to tackle the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products has led to two further applications for three‑month Closure Orders being heard at court.
The applications relate to Wallasey Shop, 190 Brighton Street, Wallasey, and The Candy Shop, 19 Pasture Road, Moreton, following repeated inspections and seizures of illegal tobacco and prohibited vaping products at both premises.
At Wallasey Shop, officers carried out an inspection in February 2026, seizing 17 packets of counterfeit and illegal cigarettes. A further inspection in April 2026 resulted in the seizure of 400 illicit cigarettes and 28 packets of suspected counterfeit hand‑rolling tobacco.
At The Candy Shop, an initial inspection in March 2025 led to the seizure of 66 packets of illegal or counterfeit cigarettes, nine packets of hand‑rolling tobacco and 88 illegal e‑cigarettes. Subsequent inspections in June 2025 and March 2026 resulted in the seizure of a further 587 illegal e‑cigarettes. Following the first visit, enforcement action at the premises related solely to vaping products.
On 1 June 2025, the government outlawed the sale of single‑use disposable vapes under The Environmental Protection (Single‑use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024. The ban was introduced to tackle soaring youth vaping rates and significant environmental harm, with millions of disposable vapes previously being thrown away each week. These products contain lithium‑ion batteries and harmful chemicals, posing fire risks, polluting the environment and creating serious public health concerns, particularly for children and young people.
In both cases, Wirral Trading Standards officers gathered evidence over a number of visits before applying to the court for Closure Orders to prevent further illegal trading at the premises.
As a result of the proceedings, the Council secured a three‑month closure order against the Candy Shop, owned by proprietor Cutesan Sahayanathan, with £800 in costs awarded. In addition, a further three‑month closure order was obtained in respect of the Wallasey premises. These outcomes reinforce the Council’s commitment to taking firm and proportionate enforcement action to protect local communities and ensure compliance with the law.
These cases show the lengths some traders will go to in order to ignore the law and put profit before public health and the environment. The illegal sale of tobacco and disposable vapes particularly affects young people, who are more likely to be drawn to cheap, brightly packaged and unregulated products.
Our Trading Standards officers will continue to take firm action against anyone involved in these activities. These are not victimless crimes, they undermine tobacco control efforts, pose environmental risks and are often linked to wider organised crime.
The action taken against the two shops also reflects concerns raised by local residents, as well as intelligence received from partner agencies.
Residents have been clear that they want action to stop the illegal sale of harmful tobacco and vaping products in their communities. These products present real risks to health and safety, especially to children, and they have no place on our high streets.
Wirral Trading Standards deserves real credit for their continued hard work in pursuing these cases and protecting our communities.
These Closure Orders represent the 11th and 12th secured by Wirral Trading Standards since December 2025, with further cases currently being prepared.
Anyone with information or intelligence about the illegal sale of tobacco or vaping products is encouraged to report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
