Two Dunstable shops closed down as £70,000 illegal tobacco haul seized
3,160 illicit cigarettes and 195 units of hand-rolling tobacco seized
Two Dunstable town centre shops have been closed down and illegal tobacco products worth an estimated £70,000 seized.
The Corner Shop, at 37 High Street North, has been ordered to close for three months after an investigation by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team.
The Dunstable Local Grocery, at 31 High Street North, was also searched as part of the investigation, with officers finding evidence that tobacco was being stored there before being supplied to The Corner Shop through a shared rear passageway.
Officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), its Method of Entry Team and specialist tobacco and drug detection dogs from Specialist K9s, raided the shops on Thursday, October 15. They seized 3,160 illicit cigarettes and 195 units of hand-rolling tobacco.
The council’s investigation included 11 test purchases between November 2025 and October 2026.
The Corner Shop had previously been subject to a three-month closure order after illicit cigarettes and £3,500 in cash were seized. It reopened under its new name in February 2026.
The Dunstable Local Grocery had been dissolved and closed for more than three months before the latest enforcement action.
The closure order was granted by Luton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 16.
Councillor Liz Childs, Central Bedfordshire Council’s executive member for public protection, said: “These closure orders send a strong message that the sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated in Central Bedfordshire.
"Illegal tobacco harms legitimate businesses and is often linked to organised crime groups responsible for serious criminal activity.
"Enforcement action like this is not just about removing illegal products from sale, it is about disrupting criminal networks that profit from breaking the law and cause harm in our communities. We will continue to use all available powers to target this activity and protect our communities.”
Anyone who suspects a business is selling illegal tobacco or vape products, or supplying age-restricted products to children, can report their concerns anonymously to Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team.