A Barrow shop has been ordered to remain closed for a further three months following continued criminal activity uncovered by Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards and Cumbria Police.
From today (Tuesday 20 January 2026), Gurga Vape Shop Ltd, trading as Easy Shop at 118 Church Street, Barrow-in-Furness, will remain closed for a further three months following a court ruling under anti-social behaviour legislation.
The decision followed evidence of continued involvement in the supply and storage of illegal tobacco and vaping products since the original closure order was granted at Barrow Magistrates’ Court on Monday 20 October 2025.
Just three days after the court heard evidence of serious offences linked to the premises dating back to July 2024 when Trading Standards officers seized 6,800 illegal cigarettes, 4.85kg of hand-rolling tobacco and nearly 200 vapes with an estimated street value of £28,000, Cumbria Police recovered a further consignment of tobacco and vapes from a vehicle registered to the owner, Barham Kaikaws.
Trading Standards officers confirmed that products failed to comply with the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015. Some of the vapes seized were disposable products, which have been banned in the UK since 1 June 2025.
Intelligence also suggested that an associate of the offender was storing illegal tobacco at their address. Police checks confirmed that the associate was insured to drive the vehicle involved in the seizure, establishing a direct link to the illegal goods and were subsequently arrested for tobacco offences.
A warrant was then executed at the address, where officers discovered multiple boxes of tobacco and vapes totalling over 100,000 cigarettes..
On 30 October 2025, an ISO storage container was broken into and found to contain paperwork and a storage rental agreement in the name of Barham Kaikaws. Inside the unit, officers discovered a large quantity of suspected illicit or counterfeit cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and nicotine inhaling devices (vapes).
Thanks to this evidence of persistent criminal activity gathered by the council’s Trading Standards team and Cumbria Police, the closure order has been successfully extended to protect the local community and prevent further harm.
The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes undermines town centres by encouraging anti-social behaviour and unfair competition, while also putting young people at risk through easy access to unregulated products.
Councillor John Murray, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said:
“The proactive extension of this closure sends a clear message - the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products will not be tolerated in Westmorland and Furness.
“This enforcement action supports the Council’s wider ambition to make Westmorland and Furness a safe and welcoming place, where people can live happy, healthy lives and helps protect the community and support a more positive environment for businesses operating legally.
“I commend the excellent work of our Trading Standards team and Cumbria Police who continue to tackle this issue. We will continue to use this powerful enforcement tool to prevent the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the future.”
Sergeant Paul Holmes, Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team, commented:
“This premises has shown a clear disregard of the laws around counterfeit goods and the closure order previously imposed on them in October 2025.
“I hope the extension of this closure order shows the lengths our partners and ourselves will go to remove counterfeit goods from our stores and our communities.
“These operations not only pose serious safety concerns to consumers, they
undermine legitimate business and often exploit vulnerable individuals and fund other organised crime which can have a devastating effect on the community.
“I would encourage anyone that knows of someone involved in selling illegal tobacco or other counterfeit precuts to get in touch so that we, alongside our partners in Trading Standards, can continue to remove these products from the streets.”
Anyone with information about illegal tobacco products can contact the Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or visiting www.adviceguide.org.uk