Oldham Council’s Trading Standards have successfully prosecuted three people who were part of an illegal cigarette selling swindle involving a trap door in Oldham.
Customs and police officersused statutory powers to break down the door at 216A Ashton Road, Oldham, and seized illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco not intended for the UK market.
The tobacco was stored in the residential address above Hussain Superstore and was passed down to the shop through a purpose made hole in the stairs.Officers seized 3,900 illegal cigarettes and 700g of hand rolling tobacco.
Three defendants have been found guilty following a trail on 23 January 2018 at Tameside Magistrates Courts.
Mr Mohammed Ali (24) of Holborn Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order with an unpaid work requirement of 150 hours
Mrs Iram Shehzadi (31) of Ashton Road, Oldham, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order, with an 8 week curfew requirement and will be required to wear an electronic tag.
Both Mr Ali and Mrs Shehzadi were charged £835 to pay towards prosecution costs.
Mr Qaisar Hussain (44) of Ashton Road, Oldham, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order with an unpaid work requirement of 250 hours and was charged £1,360.
All tobacco seized has been forfeited and destroyed.
