Swansea Trading Standards have closed a local vape shop for a second time since September 2025, after staff were again caught selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco.
World of Vapes in Pontarddulais was originally ordered to close for three months at the end of September, following a city-wide operation in which Swansea Council’s Trading Standards and local police visited a number of vape shops suspected of selling illegal and counterfeit products.
Following the end of the temporary closure notice against World of Vapes in January this year, trading standards visited the Pontarddulais shop again and carried out further test purchases, where they were able to buy counterfeit tobacco.
A further search of the premises, including the flat above, led to the discovery of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco with a street value of more than £40,000.
The shop worker responsible for selling the illegal goods at World of Vapes – Mr Many Shahabi Karimi, has since pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to the fraudulent sale of counterfeit goods and has been remanded in custody until sentencing later this month.
During the wider operation in September 2025, known as ‘Operation Ceecee’, the Council successfully closed nine vape shops following successful court applications.
Rhys Harries, Trading Standards Team Leader, said: “Our recent operation, working alongside local police, has had a significant impact on the ongoing trade of counterfeit and illegal goods sold in shops across the city.
“Test purchasing will continue to take place and we will use all available legal powers to ensure these shops are not selling illegal vapes or counterfeit tobacco.”
Cllr Andrew Williams, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, accompanied trading standards officers on the latest visit to the shop.
Cllr Williams, said: “Our Trading Standards Team is working hard with local police to prevent these shops from trading in illegal and counterfeit goods. A number of those closed temporarily in September have not reopened and we are succeeding in disrupting this ongoing business.
“The latest closure of World of Vapes in Pontarddulais shows that, even if the temporary closure notice comes to an end, we will continue to monitor the trading activities of these premises and use our powers to close them down again.”
