£160,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco confiscated from shops

Enforcement officers have taken more than £160,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco off the streets of Tameside over the past two years.

A Freedom of Information request showed a huge spike in numbers since 2022, when Tameside Council (TMBC) removed approximately £15,000 of the products from sale. 

Those figures grew to £87,590 in 2023 before dropping slightly to £79,530 in 2024, showing a marked increase in action from the council.  

By contrast, TMBC only removed £220 of illicit goods in 2021 and nothing at all at the height of COVID-19 in 2020. 

The clampdown also saw the closure of one shop involved in the supply of illegal cigarettes. 

Authorities shut the Amsterdam Off-Licence on Market Street in Droylsden last October, a decision upheld by Tameside Magistrates’ Court in January 2025, which further revoked its licence until April 18. 

Despite ownership of the shop changing hands twice since it was first ordered to close in December 2022, TMBC claim its subsequent shopkeepers have continued to sell prohibited tobacco. 

“The premises had been found to be consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management and Trading Standards matters, and other criminality. It had been subject to two premises licence reviews," said a statement from Tameside Council.

“In December 2022, Council officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs and the business’s licence was suspended for three months with conditions attached. 

“New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sell illegal vapes and tobacco.  

“In September 2023, a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods and the business’s licence was revoked. 

“The ownership changed hands again, but an application for a new licence was refused. 

“However, the premises continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.  

“On serving the initial Closure Notice in October more illicit tobacco, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco, was seized.”