Thurrock Council has secured a three‑month closure order against a shop in Grays after repeated sales of illicit tobacco and vaping products.
Vapes & Tobacco & Gifts, located at 28–30 High Street, Grays, was ordered to close by Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 April under section 80 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The court heard evidence from Thurrock Council, which showcased ongoing illegal activity at the premises despite previous enforcement action. The director of the company was also ordered to pay court costs of £2,685.39.
On 3 February 2026, the council's Trading Standards officers, who were supported by specialist tobacco detection dog, Dora, seized 6,821 cigarettes, 2.1kg of illicit tobacco, 39 illegal vaping products and 175 illegal shisha products during an inspection of the premises.
A further inspection on 26 March 2026 resulted in the seizure of an additional 1,560 cigarettes and 0.75kg of illicit tobacco. Test purchase operations also confirmed repeated sales of illegal tobacco products, including the sale of individual cigarettes. It has been illegal to sell single cigarettes since 1991.
The council continues to take action against the sale of illicit and unsafe tobacco and vaping products across the borough. These products often fail to meet legal safety standards, evade duty, and pose risks to public health. Their sale also undermines legitimate businesses and contributes to antisocial behaviour.
Dr Rubinder Bains, Director of Public Health, said: “Illegal tobacco and vaping products pose real risks to public health. They are often unregulated, more accessible to children and young people, and make it harder for people to stay quit. Enforcement action like this helps protect our communities and reduce tobacco‑related harm.”
Michael Dineen, Director of Community Protection and Enforcement Services, said: “This closure order sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the persistent sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products in Thurrock. These products undermine legitimate traders, evade tax and put our residents at risk. We will continue to use the full range of powers available to us to disrupt criminal activity and protect our communities.”
Members of the public can help by reporting suspected sales of illegal tobacco or vapes through the council’s online reporting form:
https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/trading-standards-for-consumers/report-illegal-tobacco-and-vapes
Thurrock residents who are looking to quit smoking can access six months of free premium access to the Smoke Free quit smoking app, available on both Apple and Android devices. The app offers personalised quit plans, progress tracking, tools to manage cravings and motivational rewards to help people stay on track.
Residents can access the app by visiting: https://link.smokefreeapp.com/thurrockres and entering the code sfthurr25, or by downloading the Smoke Free app and registering using their postcode. Free licences are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
