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.

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Swansea Cancer Research shop among 58 set to close as charity cuts high‑street presence

The charity says rising costs and changing shopping habits have forced a nationwide restructuring of its retail network, with dozens of shops already closing and more expected over the next two years.

Union Street store to shut as charity cuts back

The Swansea city centre branch at 19 Union Street is one of the latest locations confirmed for closure. Cancer Research UK says the move is part of a long‑term plan to streamline operations and focus on its most profitable sites.

The charity previously announced it intended to close up to 88 shops by 2026, but the wider restructuring could eventually see nearly 200 stores shut across the UK.

Cancer Research UK shops set to close

Aberdeen – 19 Rosemount Viaduct
Ballymena – 49 Ballymoney Street
Banbury – 9 Parsons Street
Belfast – 17 Bloomfield Avenue
Birkenhead – Borough Pavement
Bognor – 1–2 Clock Walk

Burton‑on‑Trent – 25 Station Street
Chesham – 34 High Street
Clevedon – 1 Station Road
Coatbridge – 20–22 Main Street
Crewe – 10 Market Street
Dewsbury – 22 Longcauseway

Dudley – 258 Castle Street
East Barnet – 276 East Barnet Road
Edinburgh – 9–10 Ormiston Terrace
Fakenham – 26 Market Place
Falkirk – 18 Vicar Street
Gillingham – 90 High Street

Gravesend – 34 New Road
Halesowen – 79 High Street
Harrogate – 24A Oxford Street
Hazel Grove – 129B–C London Road
Hemel Hempstead – 101 Marlowes
High Wycombe – 8 Church Street

Keswick – 24 Main Street
Lancaster – 54–54A Market Street
Lisburn – 4 Smithfield Square
Louth – 20 Market Place
Ludlow – 3 Castle Street
Maidenhead – 101 High Street

Merthyr Tydfil – 14 Graham Way
Mill Hill – 37 The Broadway
Moreton – 242 Hoylake Road
Newark – 26 Stodman Street
Northwood – 38 Green Lane
Paddock Wood – 5 Commercial Road

Redruth – 71 Fore Street
Retford – 25 Carolgate
Ross‑on‑Wye – 11 Market Place
Rushden – 22 High Street
Selby – 40A Gowthorpe
Sevenoaks – 137 High Street

Shrewsbury – 9 High Street
Sidmouth – 19 Fore Street
Skipton – 91 Caroline Square
St Ives – 6 High Street
Stalybridge – 44A Grosvenor Road
Stockport – 26 Princes Street

Swansea – 19 Union Street
Swindon – 28 Havelock Street
Tiverton – 15 Bampton Street
Urmston – 16 Station Road
Welling – 26C Bellegrove Road
Welwyn Garden City – 20 Howardsgate

West Bromwich – 203 High Street
Whitby – 70 Baxtergate
Wick – 36 Bridge Street
Workington – 26–32 Murray Road

Rising costs blamed for closures

Cancer Research UK says the closures are being driven by mounting operational pressures — including higher National Insurance contributions, rising energy bills, increased delivery costs and inflation affecting stock and logistics.

Once the restructuring is complete, the charity expects to operate around 320 shops, concentrating on locations that generate the strongest returns.

The organisation says the changes will free up around £12.4 million over the next five years, money it says will be redirected into life‑saving cancer research.

Online marketplace also being axed

As part of the overhaul, Cancer Research UK will also close its online marketplace in early 2026, meaning donated items will no longer be sold through external resale platforms.

Instead, the charity plans to shift towards larger “superstore”‑style outlets, with 12 new retail‑park‑sized stores planned by 2028.

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The Delhi government has issued a notice outlining significant measures in light of the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled in Delhi.

#Delhi #G20 #G20Summit #PaidHolidays #DelhiPolice #ShopClosure #IndiaNews

https://www.ganganews.com/india/delhi-govt-closure-of-shops-and-paid-holidays-for-g20-summit/