Lancashire c-store fined heavily over illicit cigarettes, underage vape sales

A convenience store in Lancashire has been fined heavily over allegations that it was trading in illicit cigarettes and indulging in underage sale of vapes.

According to local report, St. Albans Convenience Store sold counterfeit Richmond and Lambert and Butler products to undercover officers while a 15 year old was sent in to test for underage sales was able to buy two ‘Elfbar’ e-cigarettes in August and September last year.

An officer from Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards was able to buy two boxes of counterfeit cigarettes at £5 a packet, one in non-standardised packaging. Later in September, officers found illicit tobacco in drawers behind the shop counter and in a concealed compartment in the back of a cupboard in the storage area. A total of 112 packets of tobacco consisting of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco were seized.

A couple of weeks later, staff at the shop once again sold a packet of counterfeit cigarettes to an undercover Trading Standards officer. The shop then went on to sell the two Elf bars to an underage volunteer test purchaser in October, reports stated.

The sole Company Director, Idres Maoloud failed to attend court but had previously responded to interview questions under caution on behalf of the limited company. He said that he didn’t know that the tobacco was illegal and that he had been given them as payment for food and drink items from someone who didn’t have any money. He explained that the tobacco was put in the concealed compartment in the storeroom in case the shop was robbed.

The shop has been fined £10,000 while the magistrates also awarded costs totaling £1,691.69 and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all of the tobacco.

Speaking after the case, County Cllr Michael Green said, that the Trading Standards officers are declaring war against shops prepared to sell age-restricted products to young people and will continue to prosecute traders selling smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products.

“Our young people are accessing vapes for pocket money, too easily from some unscrupulous shops not taking their responsibilities seriously, however this significant sentence of £10,000 shows that such illegality is not worth the risk.”