Morriston ‘legal highs’ shop owner sent to prison

A shop-owner from Morriston in Swansea has been sent to prison after selling dangerous ‘legal highs’ to people visiting his business.

Kashif Iqbal, owner of Rebel Rebel in Woodfield Street in Morriston appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to selling goods that are banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drugs) Order 2015. He was jailed for three years and six months.

The case follows a joint investigation by Swansea Council Trading Standards and South Wales Police, who received complaints about the sale of Novel Psychoactive Substances, more commonly known as legal highs.

During several visits to the premises, officers removed products from the premises and warned Mr Iqbal not to sell anymore.

The continued selling of the products also led to widespread anti-social behaviour in and around the premises

Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City said,

“These products are dangerous and the continued supply from the shop after Mr Iqbal had been given very clear advice about them was reckless.

“The supply of these goods endangered the lives of people using them and this led to users creating anti-social behaviour.

“The failure of Mr Iqbal to take advice left us with no alternative than to take action through the courts.”

Morriston Local Policing Inspector Tony Meyrick, said:

“There is no doubt that the sale of these products from the Rebel Rebel shop in Morriston has been the catalyst for anti-social behaviour in the town.

“Local officers have received a constant stream of information and complaints about the trading practices of the premises, particularly around the sale of products to local youths.

“We have worked with Trading Standards over a long period of time to disrupt the sale of these items and I would like to thank the community for their support and patience while this work has been carried out.

“We hope that the high-visibility patrols and operations we have run in Morriston have minimised the amount of anti-social behaviour which the community has had to suffer.

“While the successful prosecution is a reflection of all the hard work which has taken place, we are not complacent and will continue to work with our partners in trading standards to tackle the sale of New Psychoactive Substances and deal with the rowdy and sometimes violent behaviour of individuals who consume these products.”