Cigarette giant drops Smethwick illegal tobacco seller
A shopkeeper in Smethwick who was taken to court and fined for selling illegal tobacco has now had his display unit removed by a top national company.
Ari Aziz Mohammed, boss of the UK Mini Market in High Street, has had his tobacco display unit taken away from his store by Imperial Tobacco.
The firm no longer wanted to be associated with the shop after action was taken against him.
Untaxed tobacco was found at the store in March following a raid by trading standards officers.
A sniffer dog was taken onto the premises in August last year.
In total, 641 packets of cigarettes and 143 packets of hand-rolling tobacco were uncovered.
The shopkeeper was fined £500 and made to pay more than £1,800 extra in court costs.
Imperial Tobacco said it did not tolerate illegal activity and has cut all ties with the retailer.
Peter Nelson, the company's anti-illicit trade manager, said: "This sends out a strong message to any retailer looking to profit from this illegal activity that there will be significant consequences if they are caught.
"Imperial Tobacco will not tolerate abuse of our tobacco units especially when they are used or associated with the peddling of illegal tobacco."
"Mr Mohammed's actions have threatened the livelihoods of other retailers in Smethwick and deprived the Government of much needed revenue. We will not hesitate to remove tobacco units and cease trading with any business found guilty of selling illegal tobacco products."
The company's actions have been backed by Bob Charnley, the trading standards manager for Sandwell Council.
He said: "The sale of cheap illegal tobacco undermines legitimate businesses and supports international organized criminal gangs.
"We hope that the enforcement action we have undertaken will sent out a strong message that the sale of counterfeit cigarettes is not acceptable in the borough of Sandwell."
After the raid Mohammed, of Heath Street, Birmingham, was charged with the possession of illicit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at magistrates court in March.
Trading standards officers have had a battle on their hands trying to clamp down on the sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the Black Country.
Last month, the Express & Star investigation found that 25 out of 27 shops visited were prepared to sell cheap and untaxed cigarettes and counterfeit tobacco.
Analysis of the samples found they contained rat droppings, poisonous chemicals, dead insects and asbestos.
