Council action leads to another store closed for illegal trading
Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court heard evidence from the council’s Trading Standards team on illicit tobacco trading at Rochdale European Market on 19 Oldham Road, Rochdale.
An application by the council to close the store was initially contested by the landlord of the premises, which lead to the court hearing. However, the Trading Standards team were able to provide evidence of illicit tobacco being sold with over 1,500 packs of cigarettes and over 3kg of tobacco seized from the premises.
The court issued a 3-month closure order on the premises preventing the shop, or any other business, from trading from the premises.
This is the fifth store closed for trading illicit tobacco in the Drake Street and Oldham Road corridor in the last 7 months.
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment, said:
“Rochdale Borough Council’s Trading Standards service continues to be efficient in closing illegal businesses harming our high streets.
“The fact that this is the fifth closure in the area in the last 7 months is further proof of how seriously we take the issue of illicit tobacco trading. This should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can operate above the law on our high streets.
“The council will continue to work hard to keep our high streets safe so our residents can buy with confidence and legitimate businesses get the trade that they deserve.”
Illicit tobacco trading harms legitimate businesses in the borough and sometimes has links to organised crime and modern slavery. The council’s Trading Standards team has made tackling this issue a focus in their operations in the borough.
