A shop in Sale was caught selling illegal tobacco and vapes when a sniffer dog found a hidden compartment in the ceiling of a back room.
Trafford Council officers crowbarred the adapted safe open, revealing the illicit stash, at 7 Day Stop in Washway Road after staff refused to open it.
When officers revisited a few days later, they found that the damaged compartment, concealed behind a light fitting, was in the process of being rebuilt.
Manchester Magistrates granted a full closure order for the convenience store after court action by Trafford Council, following the investigation involving North West Trading Standards, Community Safety, Greater Manchester Police and Wagtail UK.
The specially trained sniffer spaniel, Dora, provided by Wagtail UK, led to stock being sized by Trading Standards officers – including 1,226 cigarettes, five pouches of hand-rolling tobacco and 38 single-use vapes.
Additionally, opened packets of cigarettes were discovered beneath the shop counter. This is commonly associated with the illegal sale of single cigarettes, a practice often linked to underage sales.
Evidence was presented to the court showing that attempts had been made to obscure who was in control of the business through hasty changes to registered company directors, immediately after enforcement action.
The stated new director of the premises is also the director of several other premises including one in Hyde, which was closed in November by colleagues in Tameside Council for identical behaviour.
Officers from the Community Safety and Trading Standards teams attended court with Council lawyer James Parry. The Court was satisfied that the order, to last for three months, was necessary and proportionate.
No-one will be allowed to enter the premises in that time while the Council works with the owner of the building on next steps.
Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said:
“This enforcement action shows that we will not hesitate to take steps to protect our communities from people who sell illegal products that can damage health and undermine the livelihoods of reputable traders who follow the rules.
“It sends a strong message that any premises ignoring warnings will face prosecution. Trafford operates a zero-tolerance approach to the sale of illicit tobacco and cigarettes, and to the wider criminality that this activity funds.
“Well done to our hardworking team for securing this closure. This work ties in with Council priorities to facilitate healthy lives and a thriving economy in Trafford.”