Following last month’s closure of two adjacent premises on Chester Road, Wrexham Magistrates court issued two more closure orders for neighbouring premises in Llay on 13th May. The magistrates heard that Llay Mini Market and next door business M & B Barber both at Corwena Stores on Shones Lane in Llay were both implicated in the possession and sale of illegal tobacco and vapes over a period of time.
When Trading Standards Officers, supported by North Wales Police, visited the premises the day before to serve court documents they seized further illegal products including 6000 cigarettes, 3kg rolling tobacco (enough for 3000 roll ups) and 50 vapes. The total estimated street value is £2750. Both premises are now secured and will be closed for three months. The application for a closure order for a third premise in Wrexham was adjourned for two weeks to allow the business owner to attend court, however, the shop will remain closed until the matter returns to court at the end of the month.
Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Public Protection, said, “The sheer number of vapes shops that have sprung up around the city is alarming and the second discovery of illegal product on the premises of a barber’s shop is similarly concerning. We will continue to keep up the pressure on this illegal trade because it threatens the health of children and adults and brings crime into our community. I would urge anyone who is concerned, particularly for the health of our children and who has any information about the supply of these illegal products to report it. I would also urge landlords and agents to exercise great care when offering to rent or lease retail premises to ensure their prospective tenant will be operating legally and not selling illegal product. Where there is evidence of complicity by landlords or agents the Council will investigate and prosecute.
“Over 5000 people in Wales die every year of a smoking related disease which kills more than 1 in 2 of all long term users. Easy access to cheap tobacco increases the chances of children acquiring a lifelong addiction to this highly addictive product. Illegal vapes typically contain far more than the permitted levels of nicotine and present a similar risk of lifelong addiction. Because of this we will seek to cause maximum disruption to this trade using all the tools at our disposal.
Disposable vapes have a major impact on the environment with millions discarded every year in Wales. Each discarded vape contains plastic, electronics, a battery and residual liquid. Most are not recycled and the various parts contaminate soil and water. Those that do end up in the waste system have caused fires in waste recycling facilities because of the battery that each item contains. For these reasons, from the beginning of June, it will be illegal to sell single use or disposable vapes anywhere in the UK. Retailers need to be sure they have cleared any stock of disposable vapes by the end of May.
Anyone can report information anonymously on line at https://noifs-nobutts.co.uk/ or by phone at 029 2049 0621
