On Wednesday 26 August Solihull Council was granted a closure order by Birmingham Magistrates Court on Boss Mart 2, 53 Warwick Road, Olton after the business sold illegal tobacco and vapes.
The business and owner, Mr Mir Afzal, were also ordered to pay costs of £1,400 in total.
The closure order was granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014. It follows continued illegal activity from September 2025, which has been investigated by staff in Solihull Council’s Regulatory Services Team, and a previous closure order in 2024.
The team seized illegal tobacco, vapes and unsafe toys, and carried out test operations purchase operations, during which the shop sold a vape to a child and illegal tobacco to undercover trading standards officers.
The closure order prohibits anyone, with the exception of those named on the order – the landlord, the landlord’s contractors, or the Emergency Services - from remaining in, returning to, or entering the premises till 26 November 2026. Anyone that breaches the order commits an offence and can be arrested. If found guilty of an offence they are liable to imprisonment and/or a fine.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said:
"Cases like this demonstrate both the determination of our officers and the frustrations councils face when dealing with this sort of activity.
“Despite repeated enforcement action, some businesses continue to break the law, and local authorities do not always have the powers residents might expect to permanently prevent repeat offending. That makes closure orders an important tool in helping us protect the public.
“The sale of illegal tobacco, illicit vapes and other unsafe products puts people at risk, harms legitimate businesses and can expose children to serious danger.
“Thank you to our Regulatory Services Team for their continued hard work – we will continue to use every legal power available to tackle this activity and keep our communities safe.
“If you have any trading standards concerns, please report them to Citizens Advice."
Residents who are concerned about a business selling illegal and dangerous products can report them via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or to West Midlands Police on 101 or Live Chat.