News

Grays vape shop forced to close after illegal cigarettes and vapes were found

2 May 2025
Magistrates have ordered a Grays vape shop to close for a month after Thurrock Trading Standards officers found illegal tobacco and vapes during an inspection.
Officers carried out the inspection at Shelby's, in Clarence Road, Grays, at the start of April after concerns were raised that the shop was selling tobacco and vaping products to underage children. During their search, which was assisted by Billy the tobacco-detecting dog, officers found over 22,000 illegal cigarettes and more than 250 illegal vapes.

Shop owner prosecuted for selling vape to 15-year-old

19 November 2024
The owner of a Tilbury vape shop has been ordered to pay more than £1,400 after a vape was sold to an underage customer, as part of an operation by Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards.
On Tuesday 12 November 2024, Basildon Magistrates Court ordered Alaur Rahman, 37, of Thames Road, Grays, who owns Vape-E-Licious in St Chads Road to pay £473 in fines and £1,000 in costs. Mr Rahman pled guilty to the charge of selling an age restricted product to an underage person under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Hidden counterfeit tobacco seized in Trading Standards raid

15 August 2024
The owner of a shop in Grays has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after illegal tobacco and vapes were found in a wall and under the counter of the premises.
On Friday 9 August, Southend Magistrates Court ordered Dilsha Rashed, 41, of Lee Gardens, West Midlands, to pay £2,700 in fines, £3,000 costs and a £1,080 victim surcharge. Mr Rashed pled guilty to several offences including failing to comply with tobacco and vape regulations.

Grays vape shop closed for selling illegal vapes

29 May 2024
Thurrock Council's Trading Standards team has secured a closure notice against a Grays vape shop that was selling illegal vapes, and potentially selling vapes to underage customers.
Southend Magistrates granted the closure notice against Cloud City Vapes, Clarence Road, Grays, during a hearing on 24 May 2024.

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