City clampdown on counterfeit cigarettes continues

Swansea Council is continuing its crackdown on the sale of counterfeit tobacco in the city

It follows the latest successful prosecution by Trading Standards against a local man who was caught in possession of a quantity of counterfeit cigarettes and rolling tobacco.

Mohammed Abdulla Chowdury of Emlyn Road, Mayhill, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a quantity of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco contrary to the Trademarks Act 1994 and also the Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale (Safety) Regulations 2002) as the goods did not have the correct health warnings on them.

Swansea Magistrates gave Mr Chowdury a 12 week custodial sentence reduced to 8 weeks suspended for 12 months with supervision.

The defendant was also ordered to pay costs totalling £835 and £80 victim surcharge. An order was also made for forfeiture and destruction of the seized items.

Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing & Healthy City, said: “Counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco sold in packaging so they look like UK brands are often low quality and can contain sawdust, rat droppings or even plastic.

“The trading in illegal tobacco has serious consequences for health and crime in our area. It is strongly linked to low level and large scale crime. So every time someone buys illegal tobacco they line the pockets of criminals.

“I’m delighted with the continued success of our trading standards team in this area.”

The successful case follows on from a separate investigation in which Swansea Trading Standards seized more than 170kg of counterfeit tobacco from an address in the Sandfields part of the city in March 2015.