Shop owner fined for selling illegal cigarettes and vapes
A SHOP owner who admitted stocking illegal tobacco products and vapes valued at more than
£2,000 has appeared in court.
Trading Standards officers from Durham County Council carried out a test purchase operation at
European Mini Market in Church Street, Seaham, where they were sold two packets of branded
cigarettes for just £10. The cigarettes were analysed by the brand’s trademark holder and were
confirmed to be counterfeit and in contravention of the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Standardised
Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015. The packets also did not feature the required
combined health warnings, a breach of the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016.
Magistrates in Peterlee heard that a follow up test purchase operation was carried out shortly
after during which the Trading Standards officer was advised by a member of staff that they were no
longer selling “cheap cigarettes.”
However, when officers carried out a full inspection of the premises the following day, a black
holdall and suitcase were found containing 108 packets of counterfeit cigarettes, 58 pouches of
counterfeit hand rolling tobacco and 95 non-compliant electronic cigarettes, commonly known as
vapes. The illicit goods had a combined retail value of £2,188.
The court heard that Durham County Council was granted two consecutive three-month closure
orders for the business, before the lease was surrendered. Sarbast Jamil Mahmud, 52, of The
Parkway, Stoke, who owned European Mini Market at the time of the offences in spring 2024,
pleaded guilty to breaching the legislation.
Mahmud admitted he knew the products were counterfeit but did not know it was illegal to sell
them. He also highlighted how he had only been selling the products for a short period of time and
how he is no longer involved in the business.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £576, costs of £1,491.50 and a £230 victim surcharge – a total of
£2,297.50. They also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the counterfeit items.
Gary Carr, Durham County Council’s strategic regulations manager, said: “We strongly believe
that the criminal activity taking place at European Mini Market would have continued were it not for
the closure orders and subsequent surrender of the building’s lease by Mr Mahmud.
“The sale of counterfeit tobacco products is a serious offence which helps fund organised crime
and makes it easier for children and young people to start smoking. It also robs the public purse of
taxes that support vital services and impacts on the livelihoods of honest businesses operating
within the law.
“The closure orders imposed on this business and the prosecution of Mr Mahmud demonstrate
how seriously Trading Standards and the courts take such matters. I would urge anyone with
information on the suspected sale of illegal items to report it by calling the illegal tobacco hotline
Keep it Out on 0300 999 0000.”
Residents seeking help to quit smoking can access support by contacting Smokefree County
Durham on 0800 772 0565 or www.smokefreecountydurham.co.uk
