Two shop workers in Stoke-on-Trent have been sentenced after being found in possession with counterfeit cigarettes, the council said on Thursday (26).
Retailer Sirwan Farig Hussain, the former owner of Waterloo Stores in Burslem, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying counterfeit cigarettes, following test purchases from the shop in January and August 2019. He has since been sentenced to three months in prison.
In addition, retailer Soran Hama Saleh Kolini has pleaded guilty to charges in relation to concealing criminal property, namely £11665, and the possession of 1390 packets of illegal cigarettes. These were seized as part of a connected multi-agency operation, from a van parked on his drive at his home address in Hanley.
Kolini has been ordered to complete 12 months of community order and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Cllr Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, said, “This is an offence that we take very seriously and we will always take action against anyone found to be involved in the storage, distribution or supply of illegal tobacco.
“This is another great result for our Trading Standards team, working alongside their partners at Staffordshire Police and HMRC. The message is clear – you will face consequences if you deal in these illegal products.”
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