Vape shop shut down after illegal stock and cannabis seized in Port Talbot

Mr. Vape, on Station Road, was hit with a closure order at Swansea Magistrates Court after repeated reports of suspicious and illegal activity — including claims the shop was selling illicit products to children.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards Team said the business had been linked to counterfeit and non‑tax‑paid tobacco, illegal cigarettes and oversized vapes. During a search in late 2025, officers seized illegal cigarettes, tobacco and a quantity of cannabis.

A District Judge approved the closure under Section 80 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The shop’s owner did not attend the hearing.

The crackdown follows the UK‑wide ban on single‑use disposable vapes, which became illegal to sell on 1 June 2025.

Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“Trading Standards work hard at protecting the public and the vulnerable from illegal tobacco and vape sales. Considerable work has gone into obtaining these closure orders, and the team will continue to use the resources at their disposal to combat this illegal trade.

I would urge anyone who cares about their community and their children’s health to report any information they have relating to illegal tobacco or vape sales.”

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Four Neath Port Talbot vape shops shut down in crackdown on illegal sales

A District Judge at Swansea Magistrates Court approved three‑month closure orders against:

• Vape Land, Commercial Road, Taibach
• Vape Zone, Queen Street, Neath
• Classic Vape, Station Road, Port Talbot
• Pontardawe Vape, James Street, Pontardawe

It is the second time in six months that Vape Land has been issued with a closure order.

Pattern of illegal sales

The court heard that test purchases and inspections over the past two years had repeatedly found counterfeit cigarettes, non‑tax‑paid tobacco and oversized or non‑compliant vapes on sale.

In September, joint inspections by South Wales Police, Neath Port Talbot Council Trading Standards and Waste Enforcement Officers led to seizures of vapes, leaf tobacco and cigarettes. Further complaints were also received about sales to under‑18s.

Despite being notified of the council’s intention to apply for closure orders, the owners of Vape Land, Vape Zone and Pontardawe Vape did not attend their hearings. Classic Vape’s new owner contested the application, but the judge accepted the council’s evidence that the business had changed hands repeatedly following inspections.

What Trading Standards do

Trading Standards teams work to protect consumers and communities by tackling illegal, unsafe or unfair trading practices. Their work includes:

• Carrying out test purchases to check if shops sell age‑restricted products like tobacco, alcohol or vapes to under‑18s
• Inspecting premises for counterfeit or non‑compliant goods
• Seizing unsafe or illegal products, including oversized or disposable vapes
• Taking enforcement action through the courts, including closure orders
• Advising businesses on compliance with consumer protection laws

Residents can report concerns about illegal sales to their local council’s Trading Standards team.

Wider crackdown

The closures come just days after Swansea Magistrates extended closure orders on vape shops in the city, underlining a wider regional clampdown on illegal sales.

Since June 2025, the sale of disposable single‑use vapes has been banned across the UK. The ban was introduced to tackle environmental concerns and to protect children and young people, with many illicit products found in child‑appealing packaging and flavours.

Council response

Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“Trading Standards work hard at protecting the public and the vulnerable from illegal tobacco and vape sales. Considerable work has gone into obtaining these closure orders, and the team will continue to use the resources at their disposal to combat this illegal trade.”

He urged residents to report any information about illegal tobacco or vape sales to the council.

More on Trading Standards

From vape shop closures to counterfeit goods crackdowns, our Trading Standards coverage follows the teams working to protect communities across South West Wales.

Browse all Trading Standards stories →

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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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