Sandwell Council Closes 11 Shops in Crackdown on Illegal Goods
Joint operations targeting illicit tobacco, nitrous oxide, and anti-social behaviour lead to multiple business closures across Smethwick and Cradley Heath.
By Aisha Mahmood
••2 min read
AI
Street signs for Smethwick and Cradley Heath in the Black Country, with industrial buildings in the background.
Sandwell Council has successfully closed 11 shops across Smethwick and Cradley Heath as part of a significant crackdown on the sale of illegal goods.
The latest closure involved Ranya Express in Smethwick, following a collaborative operation between Sandwell Council, West Midlands Police, and other partner agencies. This action was prompted by complaints concerning the sale of illicit tobacco and nitrous oxide, alongside issues of nuisance and anti-social behaviour linked to the premises.
This latest closure follows a series of 10 shop closures in Cradley Heath, which were part of extensive intelligence-led operations targeting businesses suspected of illegal activities. The council is committed to taking action across the entire borough.
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"Our work to tackle illegal trading doesn’t stop in Cradley Heath. We are taking action across the whole of Sandwell, and wherever we find evidence of illegal activity, we will use the powers available to us to tackle it to help keep Sandwell safe."
Neighbourhood Inspector Westley Smith of Sandwell South emphasised the seriousness of these crimes, stating that the illegal sale of counterfeit cigarettes and nitrous oxide is not a minor issue. He highlighted that it undermines legitimate businesses and is frequently connected to wider organised criminality, including the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, violence, and anti-social behaviour.
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"It undermines businesses that are operating in accordance with the law and is often linked to wider organised criminality including the exploitation of vulnerable people, violence and anti-social behaviour. Our priority is keeping the people of Sandwell safe and supporting the local businesses that do the right thing every day. We will continue working closely with partners including the Council's Trading Standards team, to target those involved in this illegal activity and take action against the shops facilitating it."
The sale of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes, counterfeit goods, and other prohibited products is detrimental to communities, harms legitimate businesses, and can be linked to broader criminal networks. The Council continues its close collaboration with West Midlands Police and other agencies to gather evidence, disrupt criminal operations, protect residents, and support lawful businesses and local high streets.
