A shop in Brierley Hill has been ordered to close after being caught selling illegal tobacco products.

Following investigations by Dudley Council’s trading standards, High Street Mini Market on Brierley Hill High Street will be closed for a minimum of three months.

The store first opened in 2019 and has since been the subject of 11 separate seizures of counterfeit and smuggled tobacco products.

The proprietor has gone to great lengths to hide the products from officers, including hiding them within the store’s ceiling space and an abandoned vehicle.

After numerous attempts to warn the proprietor, trading standards issued a closure notice on May 15 due to the nuisance caused to the public. 

The notice was served in accordance with section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act, 2014.

On May 16, Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court issued a temporary closure order, so a full hearing could be heard.

On May 24, the court found in favour of the local authority’s application and granted the closure order for three months, with the option to extend for a further three months if necessary. Dr Mayada Abuaffan, director of public health, said: 

“It’s estimated that this shop has cost the taxpayer approximately £1.5million in non-payment of duties and tax.

“This is a staggering amount and gives the proprietor an unfair financial advantage over those shops who are doing a legitimate trade.

“Our trading standards officers will do everything in their power to bring illegal trading in our borough to a halt.”