Man who stored £40k of illegal cigarettes and tobacco avoids jail

[dutchman]

A man who was caught storing more than £40,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco destined for sale at shops in Coventry has escaped being jailed



A judge had heard that when Coventry trading standards officers raided Simand Muhammad’s home they uncovered more than 10,000 packs of illicit cigarettes and 800 pouches of tobacco.

After initially denying the charges, he pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to four charges of possessing counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes with false trade marks, with a view to selling or distributing them.

He also admitted three offences of possessing prohibited tobacco products, 10,220 packets of cigarettes and 854 pouches of tobacco, for sale or supply and four charges of engaging in an unfair commercial practice.

Muhammad (36) of Cleveland Road, Coventry, was sentenced to ten months in prison suspended for 12 months and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, who ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cigarettes and tobacco, told Muhammad: “When officers searched your address they found you were storing counterfeit tobacco products with a value of in excess of £40,000.

“Half of those were counterfeit and many of the remainder were sold under brand names that were not properly regulated, and so not subject to safety standards.

“People who are involved in selling these sorts of goods are committing very serious offences. They are undermining legitimate businesses, and in this case possibly putting consumers in danger because safety standards are not complied with.

“I know this was not your operation, and that you were not playing a leading role in it, but those who organise these operations and make large profits are reliant on the help and co-operation of people like you.

“You have put yourself in real danger of going to prison for a substantial amount of time. Please be in absolutely no doubt that if you breach this sentence, you will be back at this court and you will be serving that sentence in custody.”

[rebbonk]

The law is truly an ass!