Three shops closed for selling illegal cigarettes

Three Lincolnshire shops have been shut after raids by police and trading standard officers discovered illegal cigarettes and vapes.

Sutton Bridge Market, in Sutton Bridge; Djema, in New Road, Spalding; and Kubus, in Station Street, Spalding, were issued with three-month closure orders, Lincolnshire Police said.

Andy Wright, principal trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said investigations into the shops were continuing.

Under the terms of the court order, the shops will remain closed until 17 December.

Mr Wright said it was the "latest round of shop closures in the South Holland area".

“The sale of these goods undermines the interests of law-abiding retailers who do not compete on a level playing field," he said.

“Of course, these businesses do not pay tax on the cigarettes they sell, each packet of illegal cigarettes sold costs the Treasury around £8 in lost revenue.

"In the broadest sense, everyone who makes a tax contribution pays for that shortfall."

The closure order prohibits anyone from remaining on or entering the property, with a few exceptions to allow maintenance.

Anybody who breaks the order could receive up to 51 week in prison, or a fine, or both, Mr Wright said.

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