Shop director handed suspended sentence over illegal disposable vapes
Southgate Street business fined and vapes ordered to be destroyed
Azad Mohammed Hamad, a 29-year-old Gloucester business director, and Ranya GL1 Ltd, trading as Red Power Shop in Southgate Street, have faced legal repercussions after being found guilty of selling illegal disposable vapes. The sentencing occurred at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on 28th September 2026.
Hamad received a four-month suspended prison sentence for one year for each of the nine offences, all running concurrently. Additionally, he was put on a four-month curfew from 10pm to 6am, requiring him to wear a tag, and was banned from being a company director for two years. Hamad was also ordered to pay £2,500 towards council costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Ranya GL1 Ltd was fined a total of £4,000, along with a £1,600 victim surcharge. The court mandated the destruction of the illegal vapes and electronic cigarettes.
The prosecution followed an investigation by Gloucestershire County Council's Trading Standards team, which began after a test purchase of an illegal oversized vape from the shop on 24th January 2025. Despite receiving a warning, further inspections revealed continued sales of illicit products.
During an inspection on 27th February 2025, officers uncovered a hidden room in the shop's toilet area, secured by remote-controlled magnetic locks, containing illegal vapes. Officers seized 455 illegal devices at that time, and subsequent inspections on 11th and 13th March 2025 resulted in another 135 illegal vapes being confiscated.
In total, 590 illegal disposable vapes were seized, with products found to exceed the legal maximum capacity of 2ml of nicotine-containing liquid, with packaging indicating volumes of 10ml, 12ml, and 18ml.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, responsible for Trading Standards at Gloucestershire County Council, emphasised the severity of the offences, noting the significant quantity of illegal products involved. He stated, "Illegal oversized vapes undermine the safeguards put in place to control nicotine-containing products and create an unfair trading environment for compliant businesses."
He assured ongoing efforts by Trading Standards officers to enforce the law and protect consumers from potential harm.