ABOUT 4,000 counterfeit cigarettes were seized during a raid at a convenience store, Cheshire Police have confirmed.

Officers executed a search warrant at the International Mini Market on Orford Lane, Warrington, at arbout 1.30pm on Tuesday, May 18.

The force had previously received reports of anti-social behaviour and dangerous parking related to the premises.

And about 4,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 40 packs of fake tobacco were seized from the address during the raid.

Warrington Magistrates Court granted a closure order on the shop yesterday, Thursday – making it a criminal offence to enter for the next three months.

Two other shops on the same street – Tymbark Shop and International Minimarket – were previously shut down by the court in March after the seizure of 50,000 packs of illicit cigarettes.

A flat above one of the stores was also closed.

Inspector Danny Haddock said: “This is the fourth closure order imposed on premises in Orford Lane in recent months.

“Closure orders were secured against two shops – International Minimarket, Tymbark Shop and a flat – back in March.

“It is all part of an investigation into anti-social and criminal behaviour in Orford Lane that has led to some businesses in the street closing down and some residents wanting to move away.

“After the initial closure orders were imposed, we continued to receive reports of intimidating and threatening behaviour from both adults and young people in Orford Lane.

“There were reports of young people pestering people to buy tobacco products from the convenience store for them and verbally abusing those who refused, groups of people loitering around the shop and dangerous parking on the road due to the amount of people going to the premises.

“People living and working in the area should not have to put up with such behaviour that has a detrimental effect on your quality of life.

“The latest closure order makes it illegal for anyone to be at the new International Mini Market for the next three months, and will continue to take action against those who engage in criminal activity and fuel anti-social behaviour in our communities.

“Such behaviour will not be tolerated here at Warrington local policing unit.

“As this investigation shows, we use the full remit of the law to tackle criminal and anti-social behaviour and make the town an even better place to live, work and visit.

“I hope that the action we have taken in Orford Lane encourages members of the Warrington community to inform us of any concerns they have regarding criminal or anti-social behaviour where they live or work.”

The raid was supported by Home Office immigration teams, with eyewitnesses having reported seeing a white van full of stock being searched.

Sergeant Alex Reeves added: “As with the other premises that are subject to closure orders in Orford Lane, we will conduct regular checks of the new International Mini Market to ensure that its order is not breached.

“If anyone is found to have breached a closure order, they are liable to be arrested and face up to six months in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

“Warrington Borough Council’s trading standards department has been informed of the counterfeit tobacco products that were seized from the convenience store this week.

“Not only does the sale of counterfeit tobacco products harm legitimate businesses and society in general due to no tax being paid for them, it is also dangerous.

“Those who buy such products don’t know what is in them and what the money they have paid will be used for.

“Counterfeit cigarettes also present a greater risk of causing a fire than legitimate cigarettes that conform to reduced ignition propensity regulations.”