Illicit goods seized
Barnet Council’s trading standards team has carried out its second successful raid in the space of two months, seizing more than £40,000 worth of illicit cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco, vapes, shisha and alcohol. Almost £400 of non-UK labelled prescription medications were also seized in the swoop. Sniffer dogs were used to identify where the illicit stock was being hidden.
The seven premises targeted (in West Hendon, Hendon and West Finchley) were attempting to avoid paying duty on the products having sourced them from illegal suppliers. Those who were selling non-UK labelled prescription medications could face further prosecution under Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulations, as only authorised pharmacists can supply prescription medication for sale.
The haul included 1,286 packets of cigarettes worth £18,647, 74 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco worth £3,700, 744 illegal vapes worth £7,440, 52.1kg of shisha worth £10,420, three litres of alcohol worth £50 and 39 non-UK labelled prescription medications worth £386.10, bringing the total to £40,643.10 (with £3,687.26 evaded in duty that should be paid). The team will now be considering their next steps – which could be a caution, written warning, licence review or prosecution, and potential applications for closure notices for businesses with a history of non-compliance.
Last week also saw a court hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court for a business raided last year, where the council had seized more than £10,000 of illicit goods. Fone Side Limited, based in Station Road, Edgware, and its director Shaziab Qureshi pleaded guilty to charges under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. Due to their early guilty plea, magistrates applied a discount to the fines, but the business will have to pay a total of £7,110.27 in fines, costs and victim surcharges.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council, said: “Operations and court cases like this show that here in Barnet we are serious about businesses abiding by the law and keeping consumers safe from illegal and counterfeit goods. As well as avoiding duty that should be paid, sourcing goods from illegal supply sources can be dangerous for the end user. Any businesses out there thinking they will get away with it should hear the message loud and clear – we will track you down and bring down the full weight of the law to stop this illegal trade.”
To avoid prosecution or closure orders, businesses are advised to only buy from legitimate sources and secure and keep a printed invoice or receipt for all purchases. Legitimate tobacco products such as cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco should be in plain packaging.