Grimsby shop closed after council reports illegal vape and tobacco sales

North East Lincolnshire Council says a Grimsby shop has been ordered to close for up to three months after a court hearing linked to illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vapes.

The council said Orange shop on Hainton Avenue was raided earlier in 2026 by Humberside Police and the council’s Trading Standards team. According to the council, officers found thousands of items, including incorrectly packaged tobacco products and vapes that breached legal limits.

The closure order was made at Grimsby Magistrates Court on 29 September 2026. The council described it as the first closure order of its kind in North East Lincolnshire. It said the business had continued selling illegal products to children and adults despite warnings and earlier raids.

Why this matters for adult vapers

For adults who vape, the case is a reminder that the issue is not simply whether a product is cheap or widely available. UK rules set product limits and notification requirements for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. The MHRA consumer regulations guidance says tanks are restricted to 2ml, nicotine strength is capped at 20mg/ml, and products must be notified before they can be sold.

The GOV.UK single-use vapes guidance also says businesses must not sell, supply, offer to sell, or stock single-use vapes for sale, following the ban that came into force on 1 June 2025. Reusable vapes must have a rechargeable battery, a refillable container and, where present, a replaceable coil.

The council’s account is an enforcement report, not a product test. It does not identify every seized vape model or publish laboratory results for the products. Even so, the reported closure shows how local Trading Standards teams are using court orders where they believe illegal sales are persistent and harmful to the surrounding community.