Court fines shop owner £13,000 for selling illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes

Oct.09.2023
Court fines shop owner £13,000 for selling illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes
Bradford man fined £13,000 for selling illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with 898 packs found without safety warnings.

According to a report from the British media outlet Telegraphandargus on October 7th, the Bradford County Court in the UK has conducted a trial against a shop owner selling illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Following charges related to trading standards, the court has ordered the store to pay a fine of £13,000.


The shopkeeper, 42-year-old Nabbaz, has been running a store on Pakistan Road in the city of Kislay. However, the local trade standards authority has received multiple complaints stating that the cigarettes sold in this store are illegal. Upon inspection by the trade standards department, it was found that illegal goods were indeed being sold in the store. As a result, Nabbaz has been sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community service.


The Trade Standards Bureau has discovered that Nabaz's stores have 898 packages of cigarettes without safety warnings or improperly packaged. Additionally, 1,996 e-cigarettes were found to exceed the permissible limits, with excessively high nicotine concentrations. Current laws stipulate that the "capacity" of e-cigarette liquid should not exceed 2ml, yet some of the liquids examined were found to have a capacity as high as 12ml.


The prosecuting attorney, Mr. Walsh, representing the Trade Standards Bureau, stated that the seized items may be valued between £30,000 to £31,000.


Chowdhury, the defense lawyer representing Nabaz, stated, "Due to struggling business operations, he hoped to increase his income by selling e-cigarettes. However, he found it challenging to distinguish between the legal and illegal varieties.


Mr. Jordy lamented that the substantial seizure of his store's inventory "spelled the demise of (Nabaz's) business," forcing him to sell it. In addition to being ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, Nabaz must also pay a fine of £960 to the Trade Standards Bureau.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Changing Assumptions in U.S. Cigar Consumption: 2Firsts Interviews Cigar Educator Mechelle Merkerson
Changing Assumptions in U.S. Cigar Consumption: 2Firsts Interviews Cigar Educator Mechelle Merkerson
U.S. premium cigar culture is shifting toward education, broader choice and deeper links to craftsmanship and origin, cigar educator Mechelle Merkerson told 2Firsts. She sees boutique brands, women consumers and production-region experiences making knowledge central to cigar participation. For global brands, retailers and emerging markets such as China, education may help turn curiosity into sustained engagement.
Special Report
Jul.06
  South Korea Reopens Cigarette Tax Debate as 63% Back Higher Tobacco Taxes
South Korea Reopens Cigarette Tax Debate as 63% Back Higher Tobacco Taxes
South Korea’s cigarette tax debate has resurfaced after the Ministry of Health and Welfare said tobacco price policy needed review, with a poll showing 63% of respondents support higher tobacco taxes.
Regulations
Jun.22
PMI Partners With Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli to Launch “Believe. Further” Platform
PMI Partners With Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli to Launch “Believe. Further” Platform
Philip Morris International (PMI) and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli have launched “Believe. Further,” a multi-year communications platform targeting cultural, institutional and business audiences in Europe, as PMI says smoke-free products accounted for 43% of its net revenues as of the first quarter of 2026.
Jul.01
 Philip Morris Lowers Profit Outlook as Zyn Faces Competition and FDA Delays
Philip Morris Lowers Profit Outlook as Zyn Faces Competition and FDA Delays
According to Reuters, Philip Morris International (PMI) lowered its 2026 adjusted earnings-per-share forecast amid regulatory uncertainty around Zyn nicotine pouches, rising competition and shipment pressure in the U.S. market.
PMI
Jun.02
 NYT: Reynolds American Donated $5 Million Before FDA Vape Policy Shift
NYT: Reynolds American Donated $5 Million Before FDA Vape Policy Shift
According to The New York Times, Reynolds American donated $5 million to a Trump-backed super PAC shortly before the FDA introduced a new policy that could benefit major tobacco companies seeking to sell flavored vaping products.
News
May.21
ITGA Americas Meeting Calls for Balanced Regulation as Tobacco Growers Warn of Pressure on Farms and Legal Supply Chains
ITGA Americas Meeting Calls for Balanced Regulation as Tobacco Growers Warn of Pressure on Farms and Legal Supply Chains
ITGA said tobacco grower organizations from five Americas countries called for stronger regional cooperation and balanced regulation, warning that restrictive policies could pressure farmers and legal supply chains. The article also provides data on major tobacco-producing countries in the Americas.
Special Report
Jun.02