Legal News

Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards has prosecuted a local retailer for selling illegal cigarettes.

Sertib Saywan Ahmed, 41, runs European Foods on the High Street in Lincoln.

Trading Standards officers raided the shop after concerns about the sale of illegal cigarettes were raised by members of the public.

Accompanied by Lincolnshire Police, Trading Standards raided the shop on the High Street in Lincoln in November 2014 – and, together with a tobacco detection dog, found 399 packets of illegal cigarettes hidden in an underground bunker in the shop floor.

At Lincoln Magistrates’ Court in March 2016, Ahmed – of 29 William House in Lincoln – was found guilty of seven charges, including the supply and possession of illicit cigarettes. He was ordered to pay £630 in fines, surcharges and costs.

After the hearing, principal trading standards officer at Lincolnshire Trading Standards Officer, Andy Wright, said:

“We welcome this prosecution – and we are determined to put a stop to illegal tobacco being supplied and sold here in Lincolnshire.

“We regularly act on intelligence received from local residents – and we believe that people are beginning to understand this activity is damaging to their communities.

“Illegal cigarettes can often be linked to organised crime – and they are much more likely to start a fire, as they don’t self-extinguish.

“The sale of these products must be stopped, so we would encourage anyone who knows where illegal or counterfeit cigarettes are sold to get in touch anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise on charges relating to public protection offences, such as selling illegal alcohol or tobacco, selling counterfeit goods, selling defective produce, breaches of health and safety regulations, as well as food safety breaches, weights and measures and mislabelling offences.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and a Duncan Lewis criminal solicitor can advise on public protection offences before charges are brought and at the start of an investigation.

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