C-stores fined heavily for selling illegal tobacco, vapes

Multiple convenience stores faced hefty fines last week for trading in illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes, as enforcement crackdowns highlighted the dangers of illicit tobacco products.

Cases in Stalybridge and London saw store owners and managers penalised for selling counterfeit and unregulated goods, underscoring the ongoing efforts by local councils to protect public health and support legitimate businesses.

According to local reports, a Stalybridge store owner and manager have been ordered to pay over £11,000 after pleading guilty to three charges in relation to the sale and supply of illegal disposable e-cigarettes.

Tameside Magistrates’ Court heard that Tameside Council trading standards officers visited Texaco Caroline Street Service Station, Stalybridge, in June 2023 and seized a quantity of illegal disposable e-cigarettes.

A test purchase of an illegal disposable e-cigarettes was also made from the business.

This resulted in three charges being brought against Usman Patel, of Newstead Drive, Bolton, as the owner of the business and Khalid Muhammed, of Fenton Way, Bolton, as the manager of the business.

Tameside magistrates last week sentenced Patel to a £4,000 fine, and ordered him to pay a £1,600 victim surcharge and £715 costs. Muhammed was sentenced to a £3,200 fine, and ordered to pay a £1,260 victim surcharge and £715 costs.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Environmental Service and Neighbourhoods Cllr Laura Boyle said, “Trade in illicit tobacco and e cigarettes supports crime rings, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people.

“This is a great result from court and sends a clear message that we will not tolerate illegal trading in Tameside. Public protection is a priority for us and our officers are proactive in acting on local intelligence and investigating rogue traders to keep our local communities safe as well as to support responsible, local businesses that comply with the law.”

Another convenience store owner in London has also been fined heavily over selling illegal tobacco.

Ottoman Food & Wine on Reede Road, Dagenham was fined for over £5,000 for flogging dodgy tobacco. The store was caught red handed selling 1,880 illegal Benson & Hedges, Kent, Dunhill, Sobranie, and Marlboro cigarettes.

A routine Barking and Dagenham Council inspection uncovered the counterfeit goods after specialist tobacco detection dogs caught the scen.

The business MM & GS Food Ltd (trading as Ottoman Food & Wine) and the director Gokhan Sonmez were hit with a £5,272 fine at Barkingside Magistrates Court. MM & GS Food Ltd T/A Ottoman Food & Wine was fined £732 and ordered to pay costs of £1,611.45.

A victim surcharge was also added of £88. Sonmez was personally fined the same costs.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “We are committed to putting a stop to the selling of illegal tobacco in the borough. These activities jeopardise public health and flout regulations meant to protect consumers."