AN OLTON shop has been served a Closure Order by Solihull Council after it was found selling illegal tobacco and vapes.
Boss Mart 2 on Warwick Road has been forced to close by Birmingham Magistrates Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014.
The business and owner were also ordered to pay costs of £2,250 in total.
It follows several operations carried out by staff at Solihull Council’s Regulatory Services Team after a complaint.
The team seized 1,085 illegal disposable vapes, 120 packets of illegal tobacco and 13 packs of illegal hand rolling tobacco in January.
At a second inspection in April, they also seized 1,624 illegal disposable vapes, 125 packets of illegal tobacco, 13 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 32 packets of Naswar, a type of oral tobacco which is illegal in the UK.
The team then carried out two further test operations during which the shop sold a vape to a child in July and an illegal tobacco product in October.
The closure order prohibits anyone, with the exception of those named on the order – the landlord, the landlord’s contractors, or the Emergency Services – from remaining in, returning to, or entering the premises until January 9.
Anyone that breaches the order commits an offence and can be arrested. If found guilty of an offence they are liable to imprisonment and/or a fine.
Solihull Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Councillor Wazma Qais, said: “Selling vapes to children poses a serious health risk to our children and young people and illegal cigarettes and vapes sold at low prices can also make the products attractive to children and encourage smoking and vaping at an early age. Not only that but many of the seized vapes contain much more nicotine.
“Illegal tobacco products usually contain high levels of tar and nicotine, as well as other unknown and unregulated substances. It is therefore right and proper that businesses that ignore the law and sell these dangerous and illegal products face the consequences.”
Anyone with concerns about a business selling illegal and dangerous products should report them to Citizens Advice on 08082 787976 or visit the Citizens Advice website where the complaint will be directed to the Council.
