A Dagenham shop has been penalized for selling counterfeit tobacco products
Dagenham: An East London shop has found itself in hot water after being fined over £5,000 for selling illegal tobacco. Ottoman Food & Wine, located on Reede Road, was caught red-handed with a stash of counterfeit cigarettes.
During a routine inspection by Barking and Dagenham Council, special tobacco detection dogs sniffed out the goods on December 6, 2023. They had already done a test buy before the inspection.
The shop, run by MM & GS Food Ltd, and its director, Gokhan Sonmez, faced the music in Barkingside Magistrates Court on December 3 last year. They were hit with a hefty fine of £5,272, with the business itself paying £732 and additional costs of £1,611.45.
On top of that, there was a victim surcharge of £88. Gokhan Sonmez also had to pay the same costs personally. Councillor Syed Ghani, who oversees enforcement and community safety, emphasized the council’s commitment to tackling illegal tobacco sales, stating that these actions threaten public health and violate consumer protection laws.
If anyone knows of shops selling illegal products, they can report them to the council at tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.
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