Posted on Thursday 9th February 2023
Trading Standards Officer with seized tobacco
A shopkeeper from Newcastle-under-Lyme has been given a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years for selling illicit tobacco.
Jamal Mohammed, owner of Newcastle Convenience Store, pleaded guilty to offences relating to the sale and supply of illegal tobacco at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Monday 2023. He was also ordered to pay costs of £3,487. Officers from Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards service made the seizures during two inspections in 2021. The items had a street value of over £21,000.
The 47-year-old of Stonor Street, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent was selling packs of 20 cigarettes for as little as £5 per pack when officers raided the shop. Officers discovered the items in a hidden concealment in the ceiling with support from tobacco detection dogs and specialist camera equipment.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council said:
“Illegal tobacco damages our communities and harms legitimate businesses and we will take action against traders who knowingly sell it.
“We’re pleased that this case has reached a satisfactory outcome and hope the sentence acts as a reminder to others selling such products that we take the issue seriously.
“Our officers continue to work hard with partner agencies to combat the sale of all illicit goods, especially alcohol and tobacco which can be extremely harmful. Anyone with information on the sale of illegal or counterfeit goods should contact the team.”
The seizures were part of Operation Cece, an ongoing national exercise co-ordinated by National Trading Standards and HMRC to combat the sale and supply of illegal tobacco.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards added: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.
“Having removed 21 million illegal cigarettes, 5,800kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”
In the UK, it is estimated that about one in 10 of all cigarettes and half of all hand-rolling tobacco are not duty paid. The illegal trade in tobacco also has strong links to organised crime and illicit tobacco has a devastating effect on health.
People should report the sale of illicit cigarettes to the Staffordshire Fight the Fakes hotline on 01785 330356 or www.staffordshire.gov.uk/fakes