Luton shop fined for sale of illegal cigarettes
The shop owner was fined over £8,000
A Luton shop and its director have been fined more than £8,000 following a Trading Standards investigation into the sale of counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes.
Iuliana Bucur, 27, of Ferndale Road, Luton, appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 8 July 2025. Bucur is the Director of Nur Market Limited, which trades as Nur Market on Alma Street in Luton.
The court heard that between January 2024 and September 2024, a total of 10 sales of illegal cigarettes took place. These included counterfeit and non-duty paid products.
Ms Bucur pleaded guilty to all charges. She was fined £1,800 and ordered to pay a £720 victim surcharge and £1,000 in prosecution costs, bringing her total to £3,520.
Nur Market Limited was also fined £2,400, with £1,216 costs and a £960 victim surcharge, totalling £4,576. The combined financial penalty for both the individual and company came to £8,096.
Luton Trading Standards said the case forms part of ongoing efforts to tackle the illegal sale of tobacco, cigarettes and vapes across the town.
Councillor Maria Lovell, Portfolio Holder for Trading Standards, said:
“We’re determined to keep our town a safe place for everyone, and our diligent Trading Standards team will investigate and, where possible, take action against retailers who are caught flouting the law and selling any kind of illegal tobacco products that could severely harm the health of our residents.”
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, added:
“The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC, continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”