June 16, 2022 2.27 pm This story is over 21 months old

Boston store ordered to close for three months after secret stash of illegal items

Thousands of cigarettes, kilos of tobacco and hundreds of vapes
EuroPlus on West Street in Boston was handed a closure order after illegal smoking items were found hidden away. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police

A Boston shop has been ordered to close for three months after illegal items were located in a secret hide.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court issued a Closure Order on EuroPlus, West Street, Boston, under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, on 14 June.

This came after a visit was carried out at the property by Lincolnshire Police and Trading Standards. During the visit, 10,400 cigarettes, 3kg of hand rolling tobacco and 324 illegal vapes were recovered.

Sergeant Ian Cotton said: “In this shop, specialist detection dogs, courtesy of Stuart Phillips at BWY were used. One of the best noses in the business detected a hide in the ceiling of the premises, within which were illicit cigarettes. These hides are controlled electronically and installed at great expense.

“This should send a strong message, there is nowhere you can hide these illicit goods that cannot be detected by these brilliant animals. We will continue to work with our partners to close these shops as for as long as current legislation allows, offering a fair chance to the honest business owners of Boston.”

Andy Wright, Senior Trading Standards Officer, added: “The response from the public to our initial shop closures two weeks ago was very encouraging.  We requested the court to issue a closure order for the maximum period of three months. The court have had little hesitation in granting that request.

“The premises are all leased by tenants. Whilst the shops remain closed, we will work with landlords to ensure criminal activity does not continue once the premises re-opens. If that doesn’t happen, we will have little hesitation in asking for an extension to the closure.”