A Salford shopkeeper has been fined after almost 13,000 counterfeit cigarettes and £5,000 cash was seized by trading standards officers.
Tasawar Hussain, 31, of Liverpool Road, Eccles, was fined £1,500 in court costs at Tameside Magistrates Court on Monday (March 28). The court heard how officers from Salford City Council’s Trading Standards team visited the Xtra Local shop on Liverpool Road on February 4, 2020.
Upon attending the premises, officers seized almost 13,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 49 pouches of counterfeit tobacco. Hussain later identified himself as the owner of the business, but during the inspection denied that he had personally sold the illegal goods.
READ MORE: Man attacked after he gets out of car in eight-vehicle smash
Officers then found further illegal tobacco in the till area during their inspection. Hussain denied there were more illegal goods on the premises, but officers then discovered an additional quantity of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco.
The court heard how Hussain was then given another opportunity to disclose whether there was any more illegal tobacco on the premises before the search continued. After initially stating there was not, he then admitted there was and handed over a further two bags containing counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco.
Following the inspection, the goods seized were confirmed to be counterfeit. Almost £5,000 in cash was also seized from the premises under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on suspicion of being obtained from or to be used for illegal activity and the money was later subject to a forfeiture order to the council.
Hussain was found to have breached Section 92 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 on two counts and Regulation 5 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 on one count. Alongside a £1,500 fine, Hussain was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95. He was also handed a 12-month community order and sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work alongside ten days of rehabilitation.
John Searle, Director of Place at Salford City Council said: “Despite Mr Hussain’s repeated denial that these goods were sold on the premises, it is clear that given the quantity that was seized by the team that the tobacco was there to be sold to the public. Smoking causes heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, 16 different types of cancer and lung disease.
“Every day across our city region, 14 people die too soon from a smoking-related illness. Cheaper-priced illegal cigarettes make it easier for children to start and harder for smokers to quit this deadly habit.
“I am pleased with the result that our team was able to achieve with this prosecution and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure these products are kept off our streets and that those who sell them are brought to justice.”
It is a criminal offence to sell illegal tobacco products. If you know where illegal tobacco is being sold, you can report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online on the Keep it Out website.
