Three Wirral shops closed as tobacco enforcement intensifies 2026

Key Points

• Closure orders have been imposed on three Wirral retailers for three months after court action.
• The court orders were obtained from Wirral Magistrates’ Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
• The businesses include Liscard Shop and Vap (Seaview Road, Wallasey), C and A Convenience Store (Seaview Road, Wallasey) and 7 Days (Old Chester Road, Birkenhead).
• This is the 21st, 22nd and 23rd closure order obtained by Wirral Trading Standards since December 2025, states Wirral Globe.
• Following the complaints by the public and test purchases, illicit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were discovered stashed away in bins, hydraulic compartments and cars.
• Wirral Council said the illicit tobacco and vapes pose health, safety and environmental dangers and are always connected with organized crimes.
• According to Cllr Jenny Johnson and Wirral chief inspector Colin Dyer, this was a result of a collaboration between several agencies including the police, HMRC and immigration officers.
• Members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal tobacco or vape selling anonymously via Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.

Wirral Council (Liverpool standard) September 18, 2026 – Three retail businesses in Wirral have been ordered to close for three months as part of an ongoing crackdown on the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products, with closure orders granted at Wirral Magistrates’ Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The orders apply to Liscard Shop and Vap on Seaview Road, Wallasey; C and A Convenience Store, also on Seaview Road, Wallasey; and 7 Days on Old Chester Road, Birkenhead. According to the Wirral Globe, these are the 21st, 22nd and 23rd closure orders secured by Wirral Trading Standards since December 2025.

How did investigations at Liscard Shop and Vap unfold?

Wirral Trading Standards officers launched an investigation into Liscard Shop and Vap following complaints from members of the public and a test purchase of counterfeit cigarettes, as reported by the Wirral Globe. During an inspection in July, officers found 15 packets of illegal and counterfeit cigarettes and 0.2kg of hand-rolling tobacco hidden inside a bin bag in the shop. Police then attended and a vehicle key found inside the shop led officers to a nearby vehicle that contained 4,880 illicit cigarette sticks and 2.7kg of hand-rolling tobacco. Wirral Council secured a three-month closure order against the business, and the court also made a forfeiture and destruction order for the illicit tobacco. Aram Anwar Darwesh is named as the food business operator and self‑purported owner, while the vehicle was registered to Sharwan Faxi Omar.

What evidence led to closure of C and A Convenience Store?

At C and A Convenience Store, a test purchase of illegal cigarettes led to an inspection in July, according to the Wirral Globe. Officers seized 9,180 cigarette sticks and 4.45kg of hand-rolling tobacco, with the goods hidden in a remote‑controlled hydraulic compartment. A follow‑up inspection in August found tobacco products openly displayed, and a mandatory warning notice about sales to under‑18s was obscured and not shown in the required format. Owner Shahreyar Hassani did not contest the closure notice in court and admitted the incident was a “big mistake”.

What occurred during enforcement action at 7 Days in Birkenhead?

At 7 Days, a test purchase of counterfeit and illicit cigarettes in June led to an inspection the following month, the Wirral Globe reports. A vehicle key found with a member of staff led officers to a car containing 2,680 counterfeit cigarette sticks and 1.45kg of hand-rolling tobacco. When trading standards officers returned in August to serve a closure notice and conduct another inspection, an employee tried to conceal a vehicle key. That key led officers to another vehicle, where they found a further 1,760 illegal cigarette sticks and 0.8kg of hand-rolling tobacco. Nahro Khezri, the business’s sole owner and tenant of the commercial premises, did not contest the closure order.

Why does Wirral Council say illicit tobacco and vapes are harmful?

Wirral Council said illicit tobacco and vapes can create extra health and safety risks, cause environmental harm and are often linked to wider organised crime. The council said illegal tobacco and disposable vapes particularly affect young people, who may be drawn to cheap, brightly packaged and unregulated products. It said products must be properly regulated and clearly labelled in English so people can make informed choices, warning that unlabelled and unregulated products may contain harmful substances and chemicals that customers cannot identify.

How have officials described the multi-agency operation?

Cllr Jenny Johnson, chair of Wirral Council’s tourism, communities, culture and leisure committee, said: “Our Trading Standards team continues to take robust action against anyone involved in the illegal sale of tobacco and vapes. We are determined to quash all businesses who undermine tobacco control efforts.” She added:

“This operation is an excellent example of a multi-agency approach to address crime. This includes immigration, HMRC, police and trading standards officers. It is a credit to them all. We want our high streets to be free from organised crime.”

Wirral Trading Standards worked with immigration officers, HMRC, police and other partners during the operation. Colin Dyer, Wirral chief inspector, said:

“These Closure Orders are further examples of the close partnership working happening on daily basis, to tackle issues causing harm in our communities.” He added:

“The information and reports we receive from the public play a vital role in helping us take such action. I would encourage anyone with information about criminal activity in their area to continue sharing it.”

Where can people report illegal tobacco or vape sales?

People with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or vaping products can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, according to the Wirral Globe.

Background to the Wirral closure orders development

Closure orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 allow councils and partners to shut premises for up to three months where there is evidence of criminal activity causing nuisance or harm, including illegal tobacco and vape sales. In Wirral, Trading Standards has been running a sustained enforcement campaign since December 2025, securing more than 20 closure orders against shops linked to illicit tobacco and non-compliant vaping products.

Recent multi-agency operations across Merseyside have involved HMRC, police and trading standards officers carrying out unannounced visits to shops in Liverpool, Birkenhead, Huyton and Wallasey, resulting in large seizures of illicit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. The BBC reported in September 2026 that more than 30 stores across the UK had been closed over links to illegal vapes and cigarettes, with Liscard Convenience Store in Wirral becoming the 20th premises to be closed down since December 2025.

Prediction: how could these Wirral closure orders affect local audiences?

For residents and shoppers in Wirral, the latest Wirral closure orders are likely to increase visibility of enforcement against illegal tobacco and vape sales, potentially reducing access to cheap, unregulated products in the short term. For young people, reduced availability of illicit disposable vapes and counterfeit cigarettes could lower exposure to unregulated nicotine products, though demand may shift to other outlets or online channels if enforcement is not sustained.

For legitimate retailers, the orders may level the playing field by removing competitors selling untaxed and non-compliant goods, but could also increase scrutiny of stock sourcing and age‑verification practices. For local authorities and police, continued use of closure orders signals a shift towards more disruptive tactics against high‑street organised crime, which may deter some operators but could also lead to more sophisticated concealment methods, as seen with hydraulic compartments and off‑site vehicle storage.