Former Olton store owner pleads guilty to selling illegal cigarettes

A man has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit cigarettes following a successful investigation by Solihull Trading Standards and West Midlands Police.

Kamil Ali Fatah, who previously ran ‘Knightsbridge Convenience Store’ on Knightsbridge Road in Olton, pleaded guilty to offences relating to the sale of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday 16th September 2016.

Solihull Council’s Trading Standards team were alerted to Mr Fatah following an operation in June 2015. A test purchase was conducted in which a packet of Marlborough cigarettes were bought for well below the usual retail price.

After an extensive search of the premises in conjunction with the local neighbourhood Police team, around 1000 non-duty paid cigarettes were discovered alongside a quantity of hand rolling tobacco.

The illicit goods were found hidden in the back of a pair of speakers, inside the casing of a cash till and in a hollowed out fire extinguisher with a false base.

Mr Fatah pleaded poverty and was sentenced to a conditional discharge and £350 costs. This means that he will be sentenced for these charges if he is convicted of any other offences in the next 12 months.

He no longer trades in Solihull.

Councillor Tony Dicicco, Cabinet member for Stronger Communities & Partnerships, said: “Selling non-duty paid cigarettes adversely effects legitimate local businesses.

“This conviction sends out a clear message that we do not tolerate illegal trade practices in Solihull and no matter how craftily these criminals try to hide their illicit goods, our perceptive trading standards officers will catch them out.”

If you suspect illegal tobacco or alcohol is being sold anywhere in Solihull, call: 03454 04 05 06

For further information on Solihull Trading Standards and the work they do, visit: www.solihull.gov.uk/tradingstandards

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/1385/Former-store-owner-pleads-guilty-to-selling-illegal-cigarettes