Caught again with illegal cigarettes

SHOPKEEPER FROM HAYES SMACKED WITH LARGE FINE FOR SECOND OFFENCE

A shopkeeper caught with smuggled cigarettes hidden behind spices and drinks in two shops has been left with a huge fine for the second time.

Specially trained sniffer dogs helped officers from HMRC and trading standards officers from Brent and Harrow find the boxed of stashed cigarettes illegally smuggled into the UK.

Diljeet Kapoor from Hayes , who owns two stores in Wealdstone , was handed a fine again after being found guilty of the same offence in 2016.

Kapoor’s MG Superstore in Wealdstone High Streeet and Myra Supermarket, a few doors down on the corner of High Street and Masons Avenue, both had boxes of smuggled cigarettes stashed away behind boxes of spices and bottles of drinks.

The hidden smokes had no health warning labels or packaging, and some were even discovered in boxes labelled as containing water bottles.

At Willesden Magistrates court, Kapoor pleaded guilty to nine offences, four as a director and five as a sole trader. He also pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to 4 offences.

In total, he was ordered to pay a fine of £5,712, after having been fined for a similar offence in 2016.

Kapoor was personally fined £200, adding up £1800, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and costs of £1,326.

His company, Rimi Food & Wine Ltd was also fined £200 for each offence, making a total of £800, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £1,536.

Kapoor was caught out during a month-long London Illegal Tobacco Campaign by trading standards teams across the capital.

Cllr Varsha Parmar said, cabinet member for environment said: “Kapoor once again tried to beat the law but it again caught up with him. These tobacco products are illegal for a reason – no one knows what is inside them or the damage they can do.

“The law is there to protect people and those who play with fire will get burned.”

Simon Legg, head of service at Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service said: “Our job is to protect consumers and take action against businesses and traders who try and undercut their completion and flout the rules for their own greed.

“Kapoor tried to deceive us again, but unfortunately for him our officers are trained and will use sniffer dogs to suss out those who try and hide their illegal wares.

“He continued to sell dodgy tobacco despite a previous conviction and that is completely unacceptable. We’re going to continue to crack down on those carrying out illegal activities – there is no hiding from us.”

If you know of a business selling illegal tobacco, report them to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

PHOTOS: HARROW COUNCIL Smuggled tobacco was found in two shops

The cigarettes were hidden behind packs of spices and crisps