A convenience store in Bury town centre has been ordered to close for two months after repeated breaches of consumer protection laws, including selling illegal tobacco, counterfeit goods and dangerous vaping products.
Express Mini Market on Silver Street was issued with a closure order at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 10 February. It marks the first time Bury Council has used its new enforcement powers in this way.
Licensing and trading standards officers launched the action following a long-running investigation involving multiple agencies, including Greater Manchester Police.
Since December 2022, council officers visited the premises a dozen times, seizing illegal goods on every occasion. In total, more than 6,300 illicit cigarettes, 1.7kg of hand-rolling tobacco, 3,010 non-compliant vapes and a range of fake or unsafe products were confiscated. The estimated street value of the seized items is around £40,000.
Six separate test purchases were also conducted, alongside enforcement meetings with both the tenant and previous landlord.
Bury Council said the operation was necessary to safeguard public health and protect law-abiding traders.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “The sale of unsafe and illicit tobacco and vaping products is a real public health issue and directly harms our communities.
“This action sends a clear message: if you operate illegally in Bury, we will take robust enforcement action against you.”
She added that illegal trading undermines fair competition and damages legitimate local businesses. “This enforcement action should serve as a warning to other businesses engaged in similar illegal activity,” she said.
Chief Inspector Michael Barton of GMP Bury welcomed the outcome. “Some businesses unfortunately think nothing of selling dangerous and illicit products to customers,” he said. “Our continued collaborative partnership efforts will continue to tackle this form of criminality.”
He encouraged the public to report concerns through local police teams, trading standards or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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