Vape shop shut down again after £40k haul of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco in Pontarddulais

Swansea Council has shut down World of Vapes on St Teilo Street just weeks after the business reopened from an earlier enforcement action. The shop was originally ordered to close for three months in September 2025 following a city‑wide crackdown on illicit vape sales.

Repeat test purchases lead to new closure

Trading Standards officers returned to the shop in January after the temporary closure notice expired. Test purchases were carried out and counterfeit tobacco was sold to officers.

A further search of the premises — including the flat above the shop — uncovered a large quantity of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco with a combined street value of more than £40,000.

The shop worker responsible, Many Shahabi Karimi, has since pleaded guilty to multiple offences relating to the fraudulent sale of counterfeit goods. He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this month.

Council says enforcement will continue

Rhys Harries, Trading Standards Team Leader at Swansea Council, said the latest discovery shows the scale of the problem:

“Test purchasing will continue to take place and we will use all available legal powers to ensure these shops are not selling illegal vapes or counterfeit tobacco.”

Cllr Andrew Williams, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, accompanied officers on the latest visit.

He said:

“Our Trading Standards Team is working hard with local police to prevent these shops from trading in illegal and counterfeit goods. A number of those closed temporarily in September have not reopened and we are succeeding in disrupting this ongoing business.”

He added that the repeat closure of World of Vapes shows the council will continue to monitor premises even after temporary notices end:

“We will use our powers to close them down again.”

Part of wider crackdown on illegal vape sales

World of Vapes was one of nine shops shut during Operation Ceecee in September 2025 — a joint operation between Swansea Council and South Wales Police targeting the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco across the city.