The owner of a shop supplying and possessing illegal cigarettes and vapes told council officers ‘well done lads’ after being caught.
Newzad Osman, 41 of St Christopher Road, Sunderland, and owner of the Cloudy Mini Market on Church Street in Seaham, now has to pay more than £7,800 as a result
Durham County Council officers initially carried out a test purchase in July 2024 at the shop, where they were sold illegal cigarettes, which were counterfeit and did not carry the required health warnings.
In August that year, officers later witnessed an employee of the store accept a large red bag from Newzad Osman. He then placed the bag inside the store before walking to a nearby car park and retrieving a further bag from a Jaguar vehicle.
Officers checked the parked Jaguar and could see a large number of illicit cigarettes on the back seat. Following a further test purchase, officers were sold a further two packets of illegal cigarettes.
Later that day the council carried out an inspection of the Jaguar and premises. From the vehicle they recovered 660 packets of illegal cigarettes, along with 210 pouches of illicit hand rolling tobacco.
After entering Cloudy Mini Market, an employee confirmed to officers that there was illicit tobacco on the premises. They were pointed in the direction of the storeroom where a further 304 packets of illegal cigarettes and 138 50g pouches of hand rolling tobacco were located and seized. Meanwhile, a chest freezer in the storeroom contained 71 non-compliant e-cigarettes.
The court heard that officers also seized several notebooks showing the sale of illicit tobacco and profits made. Cash totalling £1,165 was also seized.
Later that day, officers spotted Osman, who had not been at the shop, getting in his car. They explained that they had seized the illegal items, to which the defendant responded, “well done lads.”
Osman then opened the boot of the vehicle and officers found a further sleeve of illicit tobacco by the spare wheel.
Peterlee Magistrates Court heard that the total retail value of the counterfeit products if sold at the illegitimate price was £9,622, while the total value of the products if sold at a legitimate price was £26,492.22.
During mitigation, it was stated that Osman is trying to do the right thing despite the charges against him. The court heard that he is part of a charitable organisation which provides high vis jackets and protective gloves so people can pick up rubbish across the North East, which he funds from his own pocket.
Osman pleaded not guilty but was convicted and fined £1,211, and ordered to pay costs of £6,162 and a victim surcharge of £484. In total, he was ordered to pay £7,857. He was also deprived of the £1,165 found in the shop and the illicit tobacco and vapes will be destroyed.
Tracey Johnson, Durham County Council consumer protection strategic manager, said: “The sheer scale of the operation at this premises is shocking, and we are pleased to see such a large quantity of illicit cigarettes and tobacco being seized and taken off the street. We hope this case demonstrates that we have a large range of tools at our disposal to deal with operations of this nature, and take this role very seriously.”
