Illegal tobacco stashed inside tissue boxes and drinks bottles stored in a fridge has landed a Manchester business owner in court.
In March 2023, a complaint was made against Baba’s Convenience Store, in Stockport Road, alleging that illicit tobacco was being sold from the premises.
During an inspection by Council Trading Standards Officers, accompanied by a tobacco detection dog, the business was searched.
Dixie the black Labrador alerted officers that there was illicit tobacco on the premises, eventually being found across the shop hidden in a range of locations, from inside a fridge, a box of tissues, inside a jacket pocket and in boxes around the till.
In total 4,090 cigarettes were seized as well as 250g of hand-rolling tobacco, 132 smokeless tobacco products 55 oral tobacco products and finally 156 illicit vapes.
Despite repeated requests to be interviewed about the seizures the owner of the business, Mahubur Raja Chowdhury (52) of Cavanagh Close, Manchester, failed to respond.
When officers attended the premises again in mid 2023 to hand-deliver a letter to him a further 14 illegal vapes were discovered and seized.
At a hearing held at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 4, Chowdhury pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act, Tobacco Regs and Standardised Packaging Regulations.
Chowdhury was ordered to pay a fine of £267 and a victim surcharge of £107. The Company, Baba’s Convenience Store Limited was also fined £1,600, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £640 and ordered to pay costs of £900.
All seized items were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said: “This prosecution is an important example of the work that our Trading Standards do week in week out to keep residents in Manchester safe and I am incredibly grateful for their work, as well as our legal team in securing this result.
“We know there is a direct link between people finding it harder to quit smoking and the sale of illicit tobacco. As Manchester has one of the worst rates for smoking-related deaths in the country it is vital that we play our part in helping people stop this incredibly harmful habit.
“This goes to show that ignorance of the law is not an excuse, and trying to hide your wrongdoing will not work. Ultimately you will get caught out.”
