Lowestoft shop owner fined for selling illegal tobacco
Inspectors found tobacco which didn't have the correct health warnings
A Lowestoft shop owner has been fined after being found to be selling illegal tobacco.
36 year old Ahmed Shokoulty, owner of Town Mini Market on Bevan Street East, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday (June 24) charged with breaching tobacco pacaking regulations.
He was found to be selling tobacco without health warnings written in English.
Suffolk Trading Standards seized around 2,000 cigarettes along with 7kg of rolling tobacco.
Mr Shokoulty will have to pay a £5,000 fine, £190 surcharge and over £3,300 in costs.
Councillor Andrew Reid, a Suffolk County Council cabinet member, said:
“I am delighted with today’s prosecution and would like to thank officers from Trading Standards for their continued commitment to ridding Suffolk of illegal tobacco trading.
“We know that illegal tobacco has been linked to organised crime, with this often acting as a gateway into the drug supply chain and people trafficking, making it far from a victimless offence.
“Consumers can play their part in stopping this by reporting illegal tobacco – helping keep it off the streets, putting pressure on sellers and sending a clear message that this crime will not be tolerated in Suffolk.”