A SALIBURY business has been ordered to close by Wiltshire Council after it was found to sell illegal tobacco.

Romanco at 70 New Canal was ordered to close on Monday (May 19) and cannot reopen until July 19.

Only named habitual residents and authorised individuals may now enter the address.

This comes after Trading Standards carried out a test purchase operation in response to intelligence that tobacco products were being sold to underage customers in November 2024.

A 16-year-old volunteer was initially quoted £6 for a pack of cigarettes, before the sale was ultimately refused.

A legitimate pack of the same brand usually costs over £14.

READ MORE: Salisbury vape shop ordered to close over ‘criminal behaviour’

In December, an undercover officer visited a previously closed shop in Salisbury and was directed to Romanco, where staff sold him a packet of Richmond and Lambert & Butler cigarettes for £6 each.

The next day, another undercover officer purchased a pack of Richmond cigarettes for just £5.

All cigarettes purchased were later confirmed as counterfeit, with the Richmond packs also in non-standardised packaging.

A full enforcement visit followed, with officers and a tobacco detection dog uncovering 256 packs of cigarettes and 37 packs of hand-rolling tobacco hidden in drawers beneath the counter.

All products were illegal and seized. Despite a formal warning issued to the owner, further illegal tobacco was found at the premises in March 2025.

Romanco Stor Ltd was registered to the address on October 24 2024, with director Rebwar Mohammad Abdulrahman taking on the lease shortly after.

The business is now owned by HMF Express Ltd and the director Biryar Mohammed must attend three hours training to be provided by Trading Standards before the end of the closure period.

Councillor Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said: “This closure sends a clear message that illegal tobacco has no place in Wiltshire.

“These operations often target vulnerable customers, bypass important health regulations, and undercut legitimate local businesses.

“I’d like to thank our Trading Standards team for their continued vigilance and professionalism in protecting our communities.

“If you suspect that illegal tobacco is being sold in your village or town, please report it to Trading Standards at tradingstandards@wiltshire.gov.uk or report it online anonymously at https://www.tssw.org.uk/work-areas/report-it/”

Previous closure orders have been issued in Salisbury, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Devizes and Melksham in relation to illegal tobacco and vapes.