Haslingden shop fined over illegal vape and tobacco sales
Trading Standards officers from Lancashire County Council carried out test purchases
A Haslingden shop owner has been hit with a fine of more than £4500 after staff sold a vape to a teenager and illegal products were found hidden in a secret compartment.
Ismael Ahmedi Farzanda, director of The Polish Shop Ltd on Deardengate, admitted supplying illicit tobacco and vapes when he appeared at Burnley Magistrates Court.
Trading Standards officers from Lancashire County Council carried out test purchases and inspections earlier this year.
In January, a fourteen-year-old was able to buy an oversized disposable vape, while a hidden compartment behind the counter was found to contain 85 packets of cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and 60 oversized, non-compliant vapes.
When officers returned in June, they bought a packet of Richmond cigarettes in branded packaging for just four pounds - around a third of the legal price.
A further 97 packs of tobacco and two dozen oversized vapes were seized.
All of the products were confiscated, and the court imposed a combined financial penalty of £4513.37 against both the company and Farzanda.
Officers are reminding people non-compliant vapes can have dangerously high nicotine levels, tank sizes greater than two millilitres, or missing health warnings, leaving users unaware of the potential risks.
"we are sending the clear message"
County Councillor Daniel Matchett, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing said:
"The law is very clear that under-18s cannot buy cigarettes, tobacco products or vapes. By sending in underage test purchasers, our Trading Standards teams are able to identify shops whose staff do not ask for ID and break the law by selling these products to children.
"By taking the strongest possible action and taking these individuals to court, we are sending the clear message that we will not tolerate the sale of these products to under-18s.
"Our Trading Standards teams work diligently all year round to ensure that vapes and tobacco products that are sold are legal and safe.
"Our Trading Standards team will always take the strongest action possible against those who openly break the law."