Businesses caught selling thousands of illegal cigarettes have been ordered to close as part of police efforts to cut funding for organised criminals.

Kirklees Police has said more action is on the way after court closure orders were served on businesses in Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

Kingsgate News in Huddersfield and the Mini Market on South Street, Dewsbury, had their doors locked and secured by police after being served with three-month premises closure orders last week.

Officers attended at both businesses on November 4 after the orders were granted at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court the day before.

The Mini Market, on South Street in Dewsbury, had its doors locked and secured by police after being served with three-month premises closure orders last week.

placeholder image — The Mini Market, on South Street in Dewsbury, had its doors locked and secured by police after being served with three-month premises closure orders last week.

The orders, which were made under Section 85 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, are in place until February 2, 2027 and prohibit anyone but police officers from entering the buildings. Anyone who breaches them could face up to 12 months in prison or a fine.

In partnership with colleagues at West Yorkshire Trading Standards, officers carried out multiple inspections at the Mini Market over the course of 2026. In an April visit, 326 cigarette packets, each of which contained 20 cigarettes, were found as well as forty-nine 50-gramme hand rolling tobacco pouches. In May, another 340 packets of illegal cigarettes were found on sale together with 49 pouches of hand rolling tobacco.

Further licensing breaches were detected in October.

Inspector Mark Pattinson, of Kirklees Police, said: “Seizing these items safeguards the public from products which are typically unregulated and untested and can contain dangerous levels of nicotine and other harmful substances.

Officers have carried out multiple inspections at the Mini Market over the course of 2026.

“It is also proven that money raised from illegal tobacco sales can be used to fund organised crime, which is another reason it is important we prevent these products from being circulated on our streets.”

Sergeant George Rawlinson, also of Kirklees Police, added: “We have already been passed more intelligence about illegal activity in our town centres as a result of these closures, and will now be developing it for future action.

“None of us want to see organised crime in our neighbourhoods and I encourage residents to keep contacting us with any information which can help us disrupt criminal activity and the sale of illegal goods.

“Reports can be made to West Yorkshire Police via 101, online at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat or anonymously to the independent Crime Stoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or online webchat.”