A man and woman have been given suspended sentences after North East Lincolnshire Council’s Trading Standards team seized the largest-ever haul of illegal cigarettes in the borough.
Trading Standards officers, supported by Humberside Police, searched a home in Exmoor Close, Healing, after reports from the public that illegal tobacco was being stored there.
Officers found 386,760 illegal cigarettes and 290 pouches of illegal tobacco, worth more than £227,000.
Sentencing of the pair took place at Kingston Upon Hull Crown Court on Thursday 27 July 2023 by His Honour Judge Thackray KC.
Angela Ammari, 51, of Exmoor Close, Healing, had pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 relating to 292,000 cigarettes and 50 x 50g pouches of tobacco which were found to be counterfeit copies of genuine brands. She was given a four month jail term suspended for 12 months and must also attend 20 days of Rehabilitation Activity.
Nabaz Rasul Mohammed, 29, a shopkeeper of Freeman Street, Grimsby, entered guilty pleas to 12 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and a further four offences relating to the packaging of all the products seized. He was sentences18 months in custody, suspended for two years and to attend 20 days of Rehabilitation Activity.
Upon entry by Trading Standards and Humberside Police during the raid, Ammari immediately told officers where the tobacco products were concealed within the property, taking them to a first-floor bedroom. Within the bedroom, 12 kilos of Turner hand-rolling tobacco and 36,000 cigarettes were recovered.
She then indicated that there were further tobacco products within the loft space of the property. A search of the loft revealed a total of forty-seven boxes and large bags, all containing illegal cigarettes. In total, a further 340,760 cigarettes and 2.5 kilos of tobacco were removed from the loft.
Of the total seized, 292,000 cigarettes, and 50 pouches of tobacco were found to be counterfeit, including brands such as Regal, Richmond, Lambert & Butler, Benson & Hedges, Sovereign, Winston, Marlboro, and Amber Leaf and Golden Virginia tobacco. Had they been genuine, the legitimate value of these goods would have been in excess of £162,372.
