THE OWNER of a Hyde shop has been hit in the pocket to the tune of almost £10,000 after being caught selling illicit tobacco.
Humayoon Sahil was prosecuted after Tameside Council trading standards officers carried out two test purchases at The Super Discount Store in Clarendon Place, which resulted in it selling illegal products on both occasions.
A later visit to the premises resulted in a seizure of 84 packets of illegal cigarettes, 61 packets of illegal hand rolling tobacco and 26 packets of illegal herbal products for smoking.
According to court documents, Bolton-based Sahil supplied a packet of Richmond King Size cigarettes on February 13, 2022, which did not carry a combined health warning.
Between that date and September 4 that year, he supplied Richmond King Size cigarettes that did not comply with regulations as the packet was the wrong colour.
He was also charged with looking to sell 51 packets of Amber Leaf hand rolling tobacco, 31 packets of Richmond King Size and 29 packets of Lambert and Butler cigarettes, all in packaging designed to make the look real on September 14.
On that same day, Sahil supplied 18 packets of Platinum Seven and six of Queen Menthol that did not carry a combined health warning – they along with 10 packets of Flandria hand rolling tobacco did not have the required packaging and the latter’s health warning was found to be not in English.
Sahil was also charged with supplying ‘cigarettes with a characterising flavour’ and failing to submit information in accordance with the Tobacco and related Products Regulations 2016, regarding more than 20 packets of Soex Herbal Molasses, again on September 14, 2022.
The haul resulted in 20 charges being brought – 10 against Sahil, of Litherland Road, Bolton, in his capacity as a director of the business and 10 against the limited company.
The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing but he was sentenced at Tameside Magistrates Court on Monday, January 22.
He told the court he knew what he did was wrong but he did not purchase the tobacco knowing it was counterfeit.
He said he did not think about the potential health risks selling these cigarettes could have on the people purchasing them and did not feel they would have caused health issues.
Sahil added that in hindsight he regrets the situation and is embarrassed and ashamed that these offences were before the court.
He was sentenced to a community order of 200 hours unpaid work and ordered him to pay a total of £1,376.05 costs and victim surcharge.
Super Discount Store Hyde Ltd was fined £700 for each of the 10 offences – a total of £7,000. The business was also ordered to pay £1,281 costs and a £190 victim surcharge.
Tameside Council’s assistant executive member responsible for enforcement, Cllr Vincent Ricci, said: “I’m pleased to see another successful trading standards prosecution in court and the sentencing reflects the seriousness of these offences.
“Trade in illicit tobacco costs the country more than £2 billion in lost tax revenue each year. It also supports crime rings, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people.
“Public protection is a priority for us and our officers will always take enforcement action where necessary to help keep our local communities safe as well as to support local business that comply with the law.”