UK Authorities Seize $80,000 in Illegal Tobacco; Shop Owner Pleads Guilty, Gets Two-Year Suspended Sentence

Key Points:

·Illegal Fact: The store owner possessed £66,000 (approximately $80,000) worth of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with packaging, labeling, and specifications not in compliance. 

·Judgment Result: Multiple charges resulted in a combined sentence of 10 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with an additional 80 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £1,400 (approximately $1,879). 

·Follow-up Action: Wigan Council will continue to work with the police to crack down on illegal trading.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by the Leigh Journal on July 16th, a shop owner in the Leigh area of Britain was sentenced to probation for possessing illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes worth over £60,000 (approximately $80,000).

Chaudhary Rahman from Leigh area of Wigan Road pleaded guilty to charges related to possession of six illegal items and was also ordered to pay a hefty fine.

In September 2023, Greater Manchester Police conducted a raid on a location in the Leigh area of the railway tracks where they seized 5100 illegal cigarettes and 1300 illegal e-cigarettes, with an estimated value of £66,000 (about $80,000).

Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Trading Standards Department of the Wigan Council, which then brought legal proceedings.

Packaging violation

On June 27th, the court hearing revealed that the shop owner held thousands of packs of cigarettes that were not properly packaged, labeled, or had health warnings posted as required by regulations.

In addition, the 41-year-old shop owner was found to be selling e-cigarettes with a pod capacity exceeding 2 milliliters, and without proper labeling of batch numbers or compliance packaging.

He initially refused to plead guilty to the six charges but later changed his plea to guilty.

Verdict/result of the ruling

During the hearing, the judge for public security issued a judgement sentencing Rahman to 10 weeks in prison for two charges: selling cigarettes that did not have health warnings properly displayed or did not meet packaging standards, and selling e-cigarettes that did not meet product requirements.

At the same time, the judge also sentenced him to 22 weeks in prison for two counts of "selling goods with trademarks that could be easily mistaken for registered trademarks.

However, these sentences will be served concurrently, meaning they will be calculated simultaneously, rather than consecutively.

The verdict also includes a two-year suspended sentence, which means Rahman will not have to go to prison unless he commits another crime during the probation period.

In addition, Rahman was also sentenced to a community service order, requiring him to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, as well as pay a fine of £1,400 (approximately $1,879).

“We will continue to crack down on such behavior.”

Minister Paul Prescott, who is responsible for environmental services, stated:

“This type of illegal tobacco and e-cigarette products pose significant health risks to the community and also undermine public safety. Creating a safe environment in the city center is the top priority for this administrative district's community safety partnership. I want to thank the trading standards department and legal team for facilitating this important outcome. Our crackdown on illegal trade is not a disposable action, and we will continue to work with the Greater Manchester Police in the future to combat similar behavior. If any residents notice related issues, please call 0808 223 1133 to report them.”