The Trading Standards team at the Bexley Council, supported by Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, has secured four closure orders against shops in the borough found to be selling illicit tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes.
Bromley Magistrates Court on 30 May granted the orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The four premises, now closed for a period of three months until 29 August, are Euro Express, High Street, Sidcup; Bexley Express, The Broadway, Bexleyheath; Candy Shop, Albert Road, Belvedere; and Lithuanian Food Centre, Gilbert Road, Belvedere.
The council said the closures follow extensive investigations that included numerous test purchases and seizures of illegal products from each location.
“The success in securing these closure orders sends a clear message that the sale of illicit tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes will not be tolerated in our borough,” Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE, leader of the council, said.
“These products pose significant health risks to our communities, undermine legitimate businesses, and are often linked to wider criminal activity. We are committed to working with our partners, including the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, to protect our residents and maintain a fair trading environment.”
Between February 2024 and April 2025, Euro Express failed four test purchases of illicit tobacco products. Additionally, four seizures at the store yielded a total of 1,719 packets of illicit/counterfeit cigarettes, 3.7 kg of illicit/counterfeit tobacco and 215 illegal vapes.
Bexley Express failed three test purchases of illicit tobacco products between February and April this year, and two seizures yielded 324 illegal vapes, 8 packets of illicit cigarettes and 9.3 kg of illicit shisha tobacco.
Candy Shop also failed three test purchases of illicit tobacco products from May 2024 to February 2025. Officers seized 261 packets of illicit/counterfeit cigarettes and 2.7kgs of illicit/counterfeit tobacco during a raid.
Lithuanian Food Centre failed a test purchase of illicit tobacco in September 2024, while officers confiscated 136 illegal vapes in two seizures in September 2024 and April 2025. This premises had also been subject to an armed robbery in January 2025.
In addition to the closures, an Enforcement Order undertaking was agreed and signed by the owner of Euro Mini Market, Bellegrove Road, Welling. For a period of 12 months, they have committed to measures like not selling any nicotine-containing products, not employing anyone without the right to work in the UK, providing appropriate underage sale training to staff every six months, operating a Challenge 25 system and maintaining a challenge book
Investigations at Euro Mini Market included five successful test purchases of illicit tobacco products and a vape between May 2024 and April 2025, which notably included one underage sale test purchase for a vape and one for a packet of illicit cigarettes. A seizure in December 2024 confiscated 2kg of illicit Shisha tobacco.
