Shop hit with closure notice after illegal tobacco investigation

Barnsley Magistrates issued the closure order against the Goldthorpe 26 store, meaning it cannot trade during that three month period.

Legal action was taken following a Trading Standards investigation into suspicions over the distribution of tobacco from the premises over the last year.

The court also ordered the previous and current owners to pay the council’s legal costs of £3,890 between them.

Since April 2025, investigators found more than 4,500 illegal cigarettes at the premises, with 56 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco.

Food items breaching safety regulations were also found during their work.

During one operation, 1,340 cigarettes and 14 pouches of tobacco were found hidden at the premises.

A sniffer dog was used to root out another hidden stash during November, with an even bigger haul of illicit items recovered.

The case is one of a series of successes for Trading Standards staff, who work alongside South Yorkshire Police.

A shop in Thurnscoe has been subject to a similar order recently.

Cllr Wendy Cain, Barnsley Council’s Cabinet spokeswoman for public health and communities, said: “Our teams are committed to tackling and preventing the sale of illegal tobacco in Barnsley, protecting the health and safety of our communities.

“While all tobacco poses significant health risks, unregulated products can contain higher levels of harmful substances making them even more dangerous to people’s health, and are often sold at cheaper prices, making them more attractive to those who don’t smoke.”