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SWANSEA: Vape shop shut for a third time as Trading Standards vow more closures to come

A Pontarddulais vape shop has been shut down for a third time after Trading Standards officers found illegal stock hidden on the premises.

World of Vapes, on St Teilo Street, was ordered to close for three months after Swansea Council officers visited earlier this month and discovered fake tobacco and vapes stashed in a hidden storage unit.

It is the latest blow for a shop that has now been closed three times in under a year.

The store was first shut in September 2025 as part of a city-wide crackdown that closed nine shops in a single operation.

It reopened, only to be closed again in February when officers uncovered more than £40,000 of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco — including stock hidden in the flat above. A shop worker later admitted multiple offences.

Now it has been shut a third time.

A second shop, Snoop Vapes on High Street in the city centre, was also closed after repeatedly selling fake tobacco to undercover officers over a two-month period.

Both closures were granted by Swansea Magistrates’ Court, which can extend a council closure to three months.

Snoop Vape Store on High Street, Swansea, shuttered with council closure notices on display after Trading Standards action. — plus the credit: Image: Swansea Council

Rhys Harries, the council’s Trading Standards team leader, said the team was committed to tackling the illegal sale of tobacco and vapes — “often with sales to children.”

He said officers had powers to close shops after a visit, but needed the courts to extend those closures to three months.

He said the aim was to disrupt the trade and stop harmful goods reaching younger children.

“There’s more to come,” he added. “We have continued with our intelligence gathering and there will be more closures this year.”

The latest action follows a major operation in October 2025, when Trading Standards joined forces with South Wales Police to raid shops across the city.

Nine shops were closed in those raids, with more than £70,000 of illegal tobacco and vapes seized.

Swansea is among the worst-hit areas in the UK for the trade, having recently been ranked fifth in the country for illegal vape seizures.

Andrew Williams, the council’s cabinet member for development, said the authority was taking the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco “very seriously.”

He said the Trading Standards team had made the issue a priority and gathered large amounts of intelligence on which shops had been selling illegal goods to consumers, including children.

He said the latest operation had been very successful in disrupting the trade, and he hoped it would send a strong message to other businesses that they had a duty to trade legally.

Trading Standards has confirmed that more shops will be targeted and closed as its intelligence-gathering and test purchases continue.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown
The city-wide Operation Ceecee that first targeted illegal vape and tobacco sales.

Pontarddulais shop shut again after £40k haul
The same World of Vapes store closed a second time in February.

Swansea ranked fifth in UK for illegal vape seizures
New data revealing the scale of the illicit trade across the city.

#counterfeitTobacco #illegalVapes #OperationCeecee #Pontarddulais #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards

New data shows almost HALF of all UK cigarettes smoked pay no tax — with Swansea ranked among highest for illegal vape seizures

Almost half the cigarettes smoked in Britain last year never paid a penny in tax — and Swansea is now one of the worst places in the country for illegal vapes.

Council officers in the city seized more than 48,000 illicit vapes, e-liquids and e-cigarettes in 2025, the fifth-largest haul of any local authority in Britain. Only Bolton, Cheshire East and Hillingdon pulled in more.

Across the UK, councils stripped more than 1.3 million illegal vaping products from shop shelves over the year. Swansea’s 48,220 put it firmly in the national top five.

But vapes are only half the trade. The same shops are pushing smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes — and the figures on those are even starker.

Analysis by KPMG, commissioned by tobacco giant Philip Morris International, claims 45% of all cigarettes consumed in the UK in 2025 were illicit — bought abroad, counterfeit or contraband. That is the highest level since records began.

The same industry-funded report reckons more than 10 billion illicit cigarettes were smoked in the UK last year, costing the Treasury over £4.46 billion in lost tax — enough, Philip Morris claims, to fund more than 95,000 police officers.

Those numbers come from a company with a direct stake in the crackdown, and should be read that way. But the “front shop” they describe is one south Wales knows well.

These are the outlets posing as grocers, vape shops, sweet shops, barbers or phone repair stores while selling illicit goods under the counter.

Bob Marley Vapes on St Helen’s Road, Swansea, with shutters down and Swansea Council closure notices attached following a crackdown on illegal vape sales. (Image: Swansea Council)

Swansea Trading Standards has been fighting them street by street. Last October a three-day blitz codenamed Operation Ceecee & Marvel — backed by police, HMRC, Home Office immigration officers and tobacco sniffer dogs — shut down nine vape shops across the city.

Officers made 11 arrests and seized five “stash cars.” They hauled out nearly 1,000 packs of counterfeit cigarettes and another 970 packets of illicit hand-rolling tobacco alongside thousands of illegal vapes.

One front shop on St Helen’s Road, Bob Marley Vapes, was still trading despite its registered owner being jailed over a £100,000 black-market cigarette and vape racket. Weeks later, magistrates extended the closure of eight of the shops.

Cigarettes have driven the most serious cases. One Swansea corner shop was raking in £1,200 a day selling counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco before two men were jailed.

Another Swansea man went to prison after police found thousands of counterfeit cigarettes and cash stuffed in his car.

The hauls keep getting bolder. One shopkeeper was jailed in January after officers dug a £45,000 stash of illegal vapes and tobacco out of secret compartments, a toilet panel and even his own bed.

In February, a Pontarddulais vape shop was shut for a second time over a £40,000 stockpile of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco.

Swansea Council has made the trade a priority. Cllr Andrew Williams, the authority’s cabinet member for corporate services, said when the shops were closed that Trading Standards had gathered intelligence on outlets selling illegal goods to consumers “including children.”

The action should send “a very strong message” that businesses have a duty to trade legally and not put consumers at risk, he said.

Philip Morris is using the figures to push for a tougher licensing regime. Peter Nixon, its UK managing director, said the data should be “a major wake-up call for the government,” with poorly resourced enforcement depriving the UK of almost £4.5 billion a year.

He said the past few years had been “a boon time for organised crime gangs who are selling illicit cigarettes and vapes with impunity, ruining our high streets and communities.”

Catherine Goger, the company’s illicit trade prevention manager, said it had expanded undercover teams gathering evidence in communities across the UK in its fight against the front shops.

The government needed to bring in “a robust licencing scheme as soon as possible” to drive illicit products off the high street, she said.

The row has now hit the Senedd floor. Reform Wales is demanding a crackdown on the criminal businesses it says are blighting Welsh high streets — premises used for money laundering, illicit tobacco and organised crime.

Jason O’Connell, Reform’s Shadow Minister for Economy and Transport and a Member of the Senedd, told the chamber that shops in his own constituency had sold illegal tobacco and vapes to children while displaying drug paraphernalia in the window. He said illegal shops “masquerading as legitimate businesses” were blighting high streets and undermining honest traders.

Responding for the new Plaid Cymru government, Economy Secretary Adam Price said a town-centre taskforce would be set up within his administration’s first 100 days, and that he would take good ideas on reviving high streets from any party in the chamber.

Anyone with information about the sale of illegal vapes or tobacco can report it to their local council’s Trading Standards team or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Trading Standards closed nine outlets in a three-day operation across the city.

Swansea corner shop counterfeit cigarette racket duo sentenced to jail
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Illegal vapes and tobacco were hidden in secret compartments, a toilet panel and a bed.

London vape boss ordered to repay £325k after Swansea Trading Standards bust
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Vape shop shut down again after £40k haul of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco in Pontarddulais

Swansea Council has shut down World of Vapes on St Teilo Street just weeks after the business reopened from an earlier enforcement action. The shop was originally ordered to close for three months in September 2025 following a city‑wide crackdown on illicit vape sales.

Repeat test purchases lead to new closure

Trading Standards officers returned to the shop in January after the temporary closure notice expired. Test purchases were carried out and counterfeit tobacco was sold to officers.

A further search of the premises — including the flat above the shop — uncovered a large quantity of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco with a combined street value of more than £40,000.

The shop worker responsible, Many Shahabi Karimi, has since pleaded guilty to multiple offences relating to the fraudulent sale of counterfeit goods. He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this month.

Council says enforcement will continue

Rhys Harries, Trading Standards Team Leader at Swansea Council, said the latest discovery shows the scale of the problem:

“Test purchasing will continue to take place and we will use all available legal powers to ensure these shops are not selling illegal vapes or counterfeit tobacco.”

Cllr Andrew Williams, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, accompanied officers on the latest visit.

He said:

“Our Trading Standards Team is working hard with local police to prevent these shops from trading in illegal and counterfeit goods. A number of those closed temporarily in September have not reopened and we are succeeding in disrupting this ongoing business.”

He added that the repeat closure of World of Vapes shows the council will continue to monitor premises even after temporary notices end:

“We will use our powers to close them down again.”

Part of wider crackdown on illegal vape sales

World of Vapes was one of nine shops shut during Operation Ceecee in September 2025 — a joint operation between Swansea Council and South Wales Police targeting the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco across the city.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown on illegal sales
Part of the same city‑wide operation targeting illicit vape and tobacco products.

Swansea magistrates extend closure of vape shops in crackdown on illegal sales
Court‑ordered extensions followed further evidence of illegal trading.

Council wins vape shop closure order
Trading Standards secured a closure order after repeated breaches.

Taibach vape shop shut down after selling illegal cigarettes and vapes
Enforcement action taken after illegal tobacco and vapes were found on sale.

Vape shop shut down after illegal stock and cannabis seized in Port Talbot
Officers discovered illegal vapes alongside cannabis during a joint operation.

#counterfeitTobacco #featured #illegalVapes #OperationCeecee #Pontarddulais #shopClosure #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards

Swansea magistrates extend closure of vape shops in crackdown on illegal sales

Eight vape shops across Swansea will remain shut for up to three months after magistrates backed council action against the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco.

The closures follow Operation Ceecee & Marvel, a three‑day joint operation led by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards with support from South Wales Police, HMRC, Home Office Immigration officers and tobacco detection dogs.

Raids lead to extended closures

Officers targeted 14 shops where earlier test purchases had confirmed illicit sales. Nine were issued with temporary 48‑hour closure notices while the council sought longer orders through the courts. Magistrates have now approved applications to extend the closure of eight shops, while the owner of the ninth has opted to shut down permanently.

The shops ordered to remain closed are:

• Morriston Mini Market, 86 Woodfield Street, Morriston
• Crystal Vapes, 95 High Street, Gorseinon
• World of Vapes, 89 St Teilo Street, Pontarddulais
• Bob Marley Vapes, 75 St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
• Asia Vapes, 40 St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
• Kubus Vapes, 31b St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
• Bob CBD Vapes, 29 Union Street, Swansea city centre
• Snoop Vapes, 71 High Street, Swansea city centre

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Illegal goods seized and arrests made

The raids led to the seizure of 971 packs of cigarettes, 970 packets of hand‑rolling tobacco and 2,292 vapes, with a combined retail value of more than £77,000. Five vehicles linked to the shops were also confiscated, and 11 people were arrested in connection with the sales.

Council and police warn of risks

Andrew Williams, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Performance), said:

“This council is taking the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco in Swansea very seriously. Our Trading Standards Team has made this issue a priority… I’m delighted that magistrates have supported our applications to extend the closure of eight shops in the city.”

Inspector Andrew Hedley, South Wales Police, added:

“Counterfeit tobacco and vapes are not only illegal, but they are incredibly dangerous for those who use them. These businesses were all given warnings to stop selling these items but disregarded them. They will now face prosecution for various offences as a result.”

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#AsiaVapes #BobCBDVapes #BobMarleyVapes #Business #CllrAndrewWilliams #counterfeitTobacco #CrystalVapes #Gorseinon #HighStreet #illegalVapes #KubusVapes #Morriston #MorristonMiniMarket #Pontarddulais #retail #SnoopVapes #SouthWalesPolice #StHelensRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards #UnionStreet #vapeShop #vapeShopClosure #vapes #WoodfieldStreet #WorldOfVapes

Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown on illegal sales

Three‑day operation across the city

The closures followed a three‑day enforcement operation led by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards team, supported by South Wales Police, HMRC, Home Office Immigration officers and specialist tobacco sniffer dogs.

Codenamed Operation Ceecee & Marvel, the crackdown targeted 14 shops across the city where earlier test purchases had already confirmed the sale of illicit products.

By the end of the week, nine premises had been shut down, 11 people arrested, and five vehicles linked to the trade seized.

Raids reveal hidden stashes

Among the shops raided was Bob Marley Vapes on St Helen’s Road, whose registered owner was jailed earlier this year for dealing in £100,000 worth of black‑market cigarettes and vapes. Despite that, the store had continued trading.

When officers returned last week, they found rucksacks and bags stuffed with illegal disposable vapes hidden in back rooms. Other shops were found to be using “stash cars” to store contraband, with one vehicle also containing cannabis products.

Shops closed during the operation included:

• Bob Marley Vapes, Asia Vapes and Kubus Vapes (St Helen’s Road)
• World of Vapes (Pontarddulais)
• Crystal Vapes (Gorseinon)
• Morriston Mini Market and Monsoon Vapes (Morriston)
• Snoop Vapes and Bob CBD Vapes (city centre)

Thousands of products seized

In total, officers confiscated:

• 971 packs of cigarettes (counterfeit value £4,855; retail value £15,000)
• 970 packets of hand‑rolling tobacco (counterfeit value £19,500; retail value £39,000)
• 2,292 vapes (estimated value £23,000)

All seized products will now be destroyed. Two of the shops have already been ordered by magistrates to remain closed for up to three months, with further hearings due next week.

Council: “Strong message to businesses”

Councillor Andrew Williams, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Performance), said:

“Our Trading Standards Team has made this issue a priority and has been able to gather large amounts of intelligence in terms of which shops in the city have previously been selling illegal goods to consumers, including children.

The latest operation has been very successful in our efforts to disrupt this type of trade and hopefully it will send out a very strong message to other businesses in the city — that they have a duty to ensure they are trading legally and not putting consumers at risk.”

Police: “Dangerous and linked to organised crime”

Inspector Andrew Hedley of South Wales Police added:

“Counterfeit tobacco and vapes are not only illegal, but they are incredibly dangerous for those who use them. Counterfeit cigarettes are unregulated, dangerous and fund serious organised crime. The vapes seized do not comply with UK safety standards and can pose a risk to consumers’ health.

These businesses were all given warnings to stop selling these items but disregarded them. They will now face prosecution for various offences as a result.”

Community impact

The raids drew crowds on St Helen’s Road, where locals watched as officers carried out searches and seized goods. For residents, the operation was a visible sign of action against a black market that has been openly trading in parts of the city.

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• More than 5,000 illegal vapes seized from Swansea shops in Trading Standards raid
• London vape boss ordered to repay £325k after Swansea Trading Standards bust

#BobCBDVapes #BobMarleyVapes #CllrAndrewWilliams #counterfeitCigarettes #counterfeitTobacco #Gorseinon #illegalVapes #KubusVapes #Morriston #MorristonMiniMarket #Pontarddulais #SnoopVapes #SouthWalesPolice #StHelensRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards #vapes #WorldOfVapes