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Crime Solicitors

Ross-on-Wye retailer fined for illegal cigarette haul (2 January 2017)

Date: 02/01/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Ross-on-Wye retailer fined for illegal cigarette haul

A retailer in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire has been prosecuted after Trading Standards officers found a secret compartment filled with illegal cigarettes hidden behind a magnetised stock room fuse box.

Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards service – in partnership with West Mercia Police – carried out a joint raid at the Europe Quality Food shop in Ross-on-Wye.

Most of the cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco found were counterfeit – and all goods had evaded UK duty.

Karzan Elias, trading as Europe Quality Food, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on 16 December to selling illegal fake and smuggled tobacco products. He was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,900.

Head of development management and regulation for Herefordshire Council, Marc Willimont, said:

“This year alone, Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards service has seized nearly half-a-million illegal cigarettes and will continue to target those criminals involved.

“The sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco harms honest local businesses and costs the UK tax payer up to £2 billion a year.”

“Although all tobacco is harmful, the cheap price of this illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to start smoking, as we find these shopkeepers rarely care about who they it sell to.

“We are finding that fewer people are prepared to turn a blind eye to this practice and Herefordshire Council will therefore work with its partners to keep the pressure up on those who continue to sell it.

“I would ask anyone with any information on this sort of trade to make a real difference in keeping illegal tobacco off the streets by reporting it us.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers – Public Protection Offences

Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges involving selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors and breaches of health and safety regulations.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise on police raids and premises inspections by Trading Standards or local authority fraud teams.

For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.


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