A crackdown on the suspected sale of illegal vapes and cigarettes in Darlington has seen four people arrested and two shops closed down.
A joint operation between Durham Constabulary and Darlington Borough Council's trading standards team this week saw three men - aged, 43, 38 and 28 - arrested on suspicion of possession of counterfeit goods. A woman, 35, was also detained on suspicion of possession of criminal property and obstructing the police.
All four have since been released under investigation as police enquiries continue. A number of illegal cigarettes and vapes were seized from Easy Shop on Victoria Road in the town, with that store and Neasham Road Mini Market both issued with closure notices "following the sale of vapes to children and the supply of illicit and over-strength tobacco and vapes", the police said.
