Vape shop closed by Council after repeated illegal tobacco sales
A READING shop caught repeatedly selling illegal tobacco products has been ordered to close for three months after action from Reading Council’s Trading Standards team.
Despite a six-year history of unlawful trading and a previous court-imposed Closure Order ending just five months ago, the same business was once again found to be continuing to sell counterfeit tobacco products at ‘Reading Vape & Store’ at 462, Oxford Road.
At that point, Reading Trading Standards officers used their powers to temporarily shut the shop by issuing a Closure Notice in July 2025, followed by a three-month Closure Order granted by Reading Magistrates' Court on 1 August 2025.
Between 2019 and 2024, Reading Trading Standards received multiple reports concerning the illegal sale of tobacco, counterfeit vapes, and underage sales of nicotine products at ‘Vape Shop’, 462 Oxford Road, Reading.
During this time, Trading Standards seized over 115,000 cigarettes from the premises, with an estimated street value exceeding £80,000. Of this total, more than 40,000 cigarettes were seized while the shop was trading as ‘Vape Shop’.
Illegal tobacco products are cigarettes or hand rolling tobacco that have been smuggled, bootlegged or are counterfeit.
Due to the ongoing nature of these offences over five years, the business was subject to a three-month Closure Order from November 2024.
The shop reopened in February 2025, operating as ‘Reading Vape & Store’, and the landlord informed the Council that the business was under new management.
Trading Standards continued to monitor the premises closely. They gathered intelligence and evidence indicating that the sale of illegal tobacco products was ongoing and being carried out by the same proprietors.
Test purchases of illegal cigarettes were successfully carried out on three occasions between April and July 2025. On each occasion, non-standardised tobacco was sold to the mystery shoppers, confirming the ongoing supply of illegal tobacco at the premises and providing further evidence of persistent unlawful trading.
A Closure Notice was served at 462 Oxford Road on 22 July 2025. On 1 August 2025, Reading Magistrates Court granted a further three-month closure order, until 1 November 2025, and acknowledged that it is necessary to immediately stop further criminal activity and serious nuisance.
Closure notice at 462 Oxford Road.
Cllr Karen Rowland, lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:
“Despite previous enforcement action, this business has persistently continued to show a complete disregard for the health and wellbeing of residents in the community, operating outside the law with the sole intention of profiting through the sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products.
“This not only undercuts our legitimate retailers in Reading but also exploits vulnerable residents and increases the risk of smoking among young people. Residents and businesses in the area are rightfully upset about the flagrant disregard for the law exhibited by this shop, and the Council will continue to do all we can, within our powers, to thwart their efforts to operate outside the rules that everyone else follows.
“I am grateful for our diligent Trading Standards service continuing its surveillance of activity at the premises. Closure Orders are our most powerful tool in disrupting this kind of criminal behaviour, and we will not hesitate to use them again where and when necessary.”
Reading Trading Standards’ enforcement activity at this shop, which included a sniffer dog exercise and covert test purchasing, was made possible through funding provided by HMRC, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle illicit trading and protect consumers.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said:
“The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people. Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe – a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC – has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK.”
To report sources of illegal tobacco, contact the Illegal Tobacco Hotline on 0300 999 6 999 (information can be left anonymously).
ENDS