Two more closure orders as more than 35,000 cigarettes seized
Wirral Council continues to take robust action against the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products as two more closure orders were imposed on retail businesses.
The orders were granted at Wirral Magistrates' Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and apply to:
- Wallasey Shop, 190 Brighton Street, CH44 8DY
- Store 4 You, 41 Wallasey Road, CH45 4NN
The closure orders, obtained by Trading Standards and Legal Services officers, were the 24th and 25th issued since December 2025.
Wallasey Shop was given a three-month closure order for a second time this year. Its doors were first shut in April before the business reopened following the expiry of the previous order and a change of tenant to Amir Mahmadi.
However, Wirral Trading Standards received further complaints from members of the public that illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were being sold.
This led to a test purchase of counterfeit cigarettes before Trading Standards and police officers visited the premises.
Officers found a total of 2,500 illegal cigarettes and 1.05kg of hand-rolling tobacco hidden inside a washing machine.
The court was satisfied that criminal activity had taken place at the premises. Mahmadi, the sole owner of the business, was ordered to pay £800 in costs.
At Store 4 You, a test purchase in June resulted in the sale of a counterfeit packet of cigarettes for £5.
On 11 September, Trading Standards and police officers carried out an enforcement operation at the premises and the home address of Brwa Salam Mohammed, the owner of the business.
A search of a vehicle uncovered a key which unlocked a garage behind the premises.
Inside, officers found 11,520 illegal cigarettes and 3.5kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco. Mohammed was carrying three packets of illegal cigarettes when searched by police.
Mohammed's home address was then searched. Hidden inside a bed were 22,600 illegal cigarettes and 3kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.
In total, 34,180 illegal cigarettes and 6.5kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco were seized.
The products are estimated to have had an illicit market value of £10,498, while the value of equivalent legitimate tobacco products would have been in the region of £40,000.
Trading Standards officers have been liaising with nearby law-abiding business owners whose trade has been undermined by the illegal activity.
One trader reported losing around £400 a day in tobacco sales, as well as sales of other items such as drinks and confectionery, after a nearby shop was recently issued with a closure order.
Trading Standards officers and multi-agency partners are continuing to send a clear message that the illegal sale of tobacco and vape products is not prohibited. I commend them for the work they are carrying out.
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.
The crimes committed are not victimless. They pose risks to public health and the environment and they can often be linked with organised crime.It is also unfair on legitimate, law-abiding business owners who are being financially impacted. The council is taking strong, decisive action.
