Man taken to court after police discover bags of evidence in his cellar

An Oldham man has been prosecuted and fined after more than 19,000 illegal cigarettes were found in his home.

Police raided an address on Greengate Street, Glodwick, on 21 March last year. During the raid, officers discovered 19,400 illegal cigarettes in the cellar of the property.

Islam Arif, 28, was charged at the time with possession to supply contrary to the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and pleaded guilty at Tameside Magistrates Court on June 19, 2023.

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Arif was fined £538 and was also ordered to pay £500 in costs alongside an £52 victim surcharge. A destruction order for the tobacco seized was also granted.

Oldham Council said the prosecution was part of their work alongside partners, such as Greater Manchester Police, to tackle the illegal tobacco trade in the borough. They also advised anyone who had information regarding the selling of illegal cigarettes to get in touch.

Councillor Elaine Taylor, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “We are working with partners across Greater Manchester to drive down the illegal tobacco trade and the market is declining, but it is still a burden on our communities.

More than 19,000 illegal cigarettes were discovered in the cellar of an Oldham property (Oldham Council)

“If you know where cheap tobacco is being sold, often as ‘duty free’, please get in touch. We will take action wherever and whenever we find illegal tobacco for sale.”

Andrea Crossfield, Making Smoking History Lead at the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Illegal tobacco might seem like a bargain, but it comes at a high price to our kids and our communities.

“Legal or illegal, all tobacco contains a toxic cocktail of chemicals which will kill one in two long term smokers. Illegal cigarettes are often responsible for getting children started on this lethal addiction, because of their availability at pocket money prices and because dealers don’t care who they sell to.

“The crackdown on illegal tobacco is part of wider efforts to cut smoking rates and make smoking history for future generations.”

The sale of illegal tobacco can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at keep-it-out.co.uk