Rochdale Borough Council’s crackdown on illegal trading has brought a total of 6 closures in 6 months.
Following a successful application to Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court by the council’s trading standards team, 3 more shops received closure orders for illegally trading goods.
World of Shisha in Rochdale, and Green Shop and Darnhill Discount Store, both in Heywood, received closure orders following a court hearing on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. The council’s application was supported by its housing standards service, counter fraud team, community safety service, and Greater Manchester Police.
The shops had been operating as ‘fronts’ for the illegal trade of harmful goods. The court heard how all 3 had repeatedly sold illegal tobacco, despite written warnings.
World of Shisha had opened within 3 days of another shop on Drake Street, Lezan, being closed down by the trading standards service in October 2025. The same individuals behind Lezan supplied World of Shisha with illegal tobacco from nearby cars and a block of flats. The store front aroused suspicion with mostly empty shelves, stocking expired Pot Noodles. Its closure is part of Operation Tetbury, a partnership between Rochdale Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police, to improve community safety in Rochdale Town Centre.
Darnhill Discount Store, was also found on 2 occasions to be trading counterfeit ‘Labubu’ dolls while also attracting anti-social behaviour in the area. The counterfeit toys can pose a serious safety hazard, including the risk of choking.
At Green Shop in Heywood, officers struggled to identify exactly who was behind the business due to 5 limited companies operating from the address. As well as illicit tobacco, officers also found illegal vapes at the premises including inside a car connected to the business. An illegal worker employed by the business was also arrested by immigration enforcement following a joint visit with the council’s trading standards team.
These closures follow the shutdown of 2 stores on Drake Street in October for trading in illicit tobacco.
The council is now building on this success by stepping up its operations to target the landlords of these ‘fronts’. Landlords have a responsibility to ensure any activity within their property is lawful and to take action if it isn’t.
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate change and environment, said:
“The council’s trading standards team is continuing to prove that they can work quickly and effectively to clampdown on illegal trading of harmful goods.
"But it doesn’t stop there – they are also being proactive in targeting the landlords who let these activities take place on their own doorsteps.
"We are already compiling evidence for other shops in our sights. This should act as a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can act above the law on our high streets: our team will find you and action will be delivered swiftly.”
The trading of these illicit goods poses significant harm to health and damages legitimate businesses on the high streets. Illicit tobacco is often linked with organised crime and modern slavery.