THE DIRECTOR of an Olton shop pleaded guilty to selling various illegal tobacco products and disposable vapes.
Afzal Mir of Shirestone Road, Birmingham, admitted he charges against him and he and his business were fined a total of £5,800 at Birmingham Magistrates Court.
The 25-year-old was handed a fine of £2,000 plus a victim surcharge of £800 and was ordered to pay £3,000 costs.
In November Boss Mart 2 on Warwick Road was served with a Closure Order by by Birmingham Magistrates Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014 following prosecution by Solihull Council.
The prosecution follows several operations that were carried out by staff at Solihull Council’s Trading Standards Team last year and they received a complaint.
The team seized 1,085 illegal disposable vapes, 120 packets of illegal tobacco and 13 packs of illegal hand rolling tobacco in January.
At a second inspection in April 2024, they also seized 1,624 illegal disposable vapes, 125 packets of illegal tobacco, 13 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 32 packets of Naswar, a type of chewing tobacco which is illegal in the UK.
The team then carried out two further test operations during which the shop sold a vape to a child in July and an illegal tobacco product in October.
Solihull Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Councillor Wazma Qais, said: “Selling vapes to children poses a serious health risk to our children and young people and illegal cigarettes and vapes sold at low prices can make the products attractive and encourage smoking and vaping at an early age. Not only that but many of the seized vapes contain much more nicotine.
“Illegal tobacco products usually contain high levels of tar and nicotine, as well as other unknown and unregulated substances. It is therefore right and proper that businesses that ignore the law and sell these dangerous and illegal products face prosecution, fines and even imprisonment.
“I would like to thank the Council’s Trading Standards team for their continued work to ensure businesses operating in Solihull comply with their legal obligations, and for following up this complaint successfully. The resident’s complaint and the team’s actions have ensured that these harmful products will not be sold.”
Anyone with concerns about a business selling illegal and dangerous products should report them to Citizens Advice on 08082 787976 or visit the Citizens Advice website where the complaint will be directed to the Council.
