A city centre shop has been ordered to temporarily close after a stash of illegal vapes were discovered in a locked room.
Police and council officers say they were abused as they rumbled the illegal activities at Matadar News and Souvenirs, on Piccadilly. It has now been ordered to shut its doors for eight weeks by a court order.
Earlier this year, a Manchester Evening News investigation found that illegal vapes which have triggered safety warnings were being openly sold at Matadar News and Souvenirs.
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A reporter was able to purchase a ‘Mr Blue’ ENE Legend 3500, a vape that trading standards officers at one council have warned people to avoid due to its “excess capacity”. The packaging on the vape said it contained 3,500 puffs – nearly six times the recommended industry standard of 600 puffs.
A joint investigation between Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Manchester City Council was launched after reports of illegal sales of nicotine products and reports the shop was allegedly selling vapes to underage kids.
In 2022, 679 non-compliant vapes were found at the shop and seized. That same year a 14 year-old was sold nicotine products as part of a test purchase.
On August 27 this year, officers paid another visit, and discovered a ‘significant number of illicit products.’
“This included 1,642 vapes, 146 cigarettes and a number of suspected counterfeit items”, Manchester City Council said.
In a statement, the town hall said trading standards officers were initially refused entry to a locked room at the back of the shop. “It took the discovery of a four-digit code by accompanying GMP officers to gain entry where eventually, a large number of illegal vapes were found”, they said.
“It was during this time that officers were subjected to verbal abuse by a male staff member when carrying out their work.”
A closure order was granted by Manchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
It means for eight weeks, only a specified director of the company owning the freehold of the premises, the manager of Matadar News, and Council officers and members of the emergency services will be allowed to legally enter the premises.
Coun Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The sale of illegal vapes or tobacco products is not an underground trade, as we have seen with this case – these items can be found next to one of the busiest public spaces in Manchester.
“However, now the tens of thousands who pass through this area every day can see for themselves that action has been taken, and the supply and sale of illegal products will not be tolerated.”
Inspector Kam Hare, from GMP’s City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The illegal supply of vapes continues to be a top priority for us in Manchester. Through our many interactions with young people in the city centre, many are regularly in possession of non-compliant vapes, and the sale of nicotine products to children is completely unacceptable.
“Closing premises which sell illicit vapes is a great step towards ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable and we are committed to working closely with our partners at the Council to do all we can to safeguard young people.”
