A city shop which stocked thousands of illicit tobacco products has been ordered to pay £16,000 following a prosecution by City of Wolverhampton Council.

Heath Town business Easy Mini Market Ltd, trading as Easy Shop, was prosecuted after illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes were found hidden in the store for a second time.

A total of 7,910 single cigarettes, 79 pouches of hand rolling tobacco and 206 single use e-cigarettes were discovered and seized during an inspection by Trading Standards officers last year.  

At a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court on January 28, owner and director Sharifullah Azimi attended on behalf of the company and himself. Both pleaded guilty to a string of charges.

The company was fined £6,670 with a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £1,545.83. Azimi was fined £3,300, with a victim surcharge of £1,332 and costs of £1,545.83. in total, the fines came to £16,393.66.

Trading Standards officers initially carried out an underage test purchase at the Wednesfield Road store in July 2019 when a packet of counterfeit cigarettes was sold to a 15-year-old volunteer.

An inspection and seizure then found 4,900 illicit cigarettes and 750g of illicit hand rolling tobacco. The owner was issued with a written warning.

In 2024, a second underage sale was attempted and was refused, but a pack of illicit cigarettes was sold to a covert council officer.

A pre-planned Trading Standards operation then led to the discovery of 7,910 illicit cigarettes and 79 pouches of hand rolling tobacco under the counter and in a rear storeroom. A further 206 illicit e-cigarettes were found hidden in the cigarette gantry.

In court, Azimi pleaded guilty to six offences: four under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, one under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and one Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015.

The company admitted 11 charges: four under Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, three under the Trademarks Act and one each under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015, The Companies Act 2006 and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, said: “This was a serious case involving a city retailer who concealed thousands of illicit products.

“This successful prosecution marks another important step in our continued work to safeguard residents and tackle the illegal tobacco trade within the city.

“Illicit vapes and tobacco present significant health risks. As unregulated products, they can contain dangerously high levels of harmful chemicals and contribute to underage use, increasing the risk of addiction.

“These unlawful sales also undermine honest local businesses, creating unfair competition for traders who operate responsibly. This outcome reflects the dedication and hard work of our Trading Standards team. We remain committed to stopping the sale and supply of illegal and unsafe products.”

Dudley Magistrates made a forfeiture and destruction order against the items seized. The cigarettes and tobacco will now be handed over to a recycling scheme by Trading Standards officers to be dealt with in an environmentally friendly way.

Anyone who thinks they may have been sold illegal goods or suspect someone is selling them, is asked to email trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk