(Image: Rhondda Cynon Taf Council)
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A vape shop in Aberdare town centre has had its doors closed for three months after magistrates heard that unlawful tobacco was being sold over its counter repeatedly, and that warnings from council officers went unheeded.
The closure order
Best Vape, which trades from 34 Victoria Square, was made subject to an immediate closure order on June 24 at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court. The order was granted after Rhondda Cynon Taf Council applied under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, following a lengthy Trading Standards inquiry into the supply of illegal vapes, cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco from the shop. The premises have since been boarded up and cannot reopen while the order runs.
What officers found
Enforcement officers called at the shop on a number of occasions. Illegal vapes, cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were removed on two of those visits, and a quantity of fake Labubu dolls was handed over voluntarily during one inspection. Officers also attempted eight test purchases at the premises. On every single one, the court was told, staff supplied either illegal cigarettes or illegal hand-rolling tobacco.
Complaints and warnings
Twelve separate complaints about the business had reached Trading Standards, five of them alleging that vapes were sold to children under 18. Partner agencies passed on a further five pieces of intelligence. The operators had been told what the law required of them and offered guidance, the council said, but the illegal trading continued regardless.
The case put to magistrates
The bench heard that cut-price illicit tobacco was causing harm on two fronts, drawing custom away from law-abiding traders nearby while feeding wider problems in the community. Having to return to the same shop time and again had also absorbed a substantial share of Trading Standards’ resources. The investigation forms part of a wider council drive against the illegal tobacco and vape trade, carried out with South Wales Police and other agencies.
Council response
Rhian Hope, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s director of public protection, said: “This closure order demonstrates our commitment to tackling the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“Despite repeated intervention, advice and enforcement action from our Trading Standards team, this business continued to engage in illegal activity. The evidence presented to the court clearly demonstrated the scale and persistence of the offending.
“The sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products undermines legitimate businesses, poses risks to public health, and can contribute to wider criminality within our communities.
“I would like to thank all of the officers and partner agencies involved in this investigation. Their dedication and persistence have resulted in decisive action being taken to protect the local community and sends a clear message that illegal traders will be held accountable.
“Trading Standards will continue to take robust action against businesses that break the law, and we encourage members of the public to report any concerns about illegal trading activity.
“The dedicated Trading Standards team in Rhondda Cynon Taf employs a range of enforcement techniques to identify businesses supplying illegal products, working closely with partners at a local, regional and national level.”
The council has urged anyone who suspects illegal trading in their area to report their concerns.
