The EuroFood store in Lincoln Road, Peterborough, will close for three months following an investigation by Peterborough City Council’s Trading Standards team.

Peterborough Magistrates Court granted a Closure Order on EuroFood, following successive raids by Trading Standards at the premises, resulting in the seizure of approximately 35,000 illicit cigarettes and 3,500 illegal vapes.

According to the city council, their Trading Standard's department and Police had received multiple reports from the public concerning illegal vapes and tobacco being sold at the premises. Multiple raids have taken place previously:

August 2023 – approximately 4,400 illegal cigarettes and 2,000 illegal vapes were seized.

January 2024 – approximately 5,600 illegal cigarettes and 900 vapes and another raid 24,600 illegal cigarettes and 621 illegal vapes were removed.

Joanne Smith, consumer protection team leader for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards said: “The Closure Order will have an instant and substantial impact on EuroFood.

"It is the first time we have used such an Order for illicit tobacco and it sends a clear message to the organised crime gangs behind these crimes that the sale of illicit tobacco products in Peterborough will not be tolerated.”

Across the city, there is ongoing multi-agency enforcement to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco and nicotine products, says Trading Standards.

Members of the public can report intelligence or concerns of criminal activity anomalously online at: www.keep-it-out.co.uk or contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on: 0808 223 1133 – Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm