The courts have ordered the closure of eight shops involved in the sale of illegal tobacco.

The stores in Gravesend were raided and immediately shut down earlier this week in what is believed to be the biggest co-ordinated closure of such shops by a local authority in the UK.

The operation on Wednesday afternoon was led by Gravesham council and supported by Kent Police, KCC Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs.

The premises were served closure notices under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Now Sevenoaks magistrates have issued three-month closure orders on all eight stores having reviewed evidence of activity related to the sale of illegal tobacco products gathered by the partner agencies over several months.

The decision has been welcomed by Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham council’s cabinet member for community and leisure, who said: “I would like to thank the courts for supporting the efforts of ourselves and our partners to disrupt this illegal trade in Gravesend.

“We will not tolerate any activity that puts the health and well-being of our residents at risk and which threatens the financial viability of the very many law-abiding businesses in the borough.

“Today’s decision should send a very strong warning to anyone looking to make profit from illegal trading that the courts will support us when we take action. And be assured, together with our partner agencies we will take action to disrupt such activities where we have evidence that it is taking place.

“We are determined to use all the enforcement powers at our disposal to tackle anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and other illegal activities in the borough and we will be taking cases to the courts and asking them to take the strongest possible action to support us in our efforts.”

The eight shops which have been closed down are:

• Monika’s International, Queen Street, Gravesend
• Baltic Groceries, Queen Street, Gravesend
• Milton Road Mini Mart, Milton Road, Gravesend
• Mila Groceries, Milton Road, Gravesend
• Milano Grocery, Milton Road, Gravesend
• 5* Eastern European Mini Supermarket, Parrock Street, Gravesend
• New Road Groceries, New Road, Gravesend
• Smart Mini Mart, Pelham Road South, Gravesend

A shop in Rainham has also been closed down by the courts this week for three months after illegal tobacco was found.