Two cases saw children sold fake fags for £5 a pack
Southwark Council has closed a shop in Camberwell for repeatedly selling illegal tobacco and vapes. The council’s investigation on Camberwell Church Street included six undercover visits, which led to the sale of illegal and counterfeit tobacco.
This included two cases where children were sold fake fags for £5 a pack. Officers carried out three inspections for the council and seized over 32,000 illegal cigarettes, 490 illicit vapes and 43 shisha packs.
The order was granted at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on April 15 2026 under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Despite opposition from the landlord, the court ruled there was clear evidence of ongoing illegal activity and that closing the premises was necessary to prevent it continuing. The shop will now remain closed for three months, until July 15 this year.
Many of the products were hidden in crafty concealments and were only discovered with the help of specialist tobacco detection dogs.
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