Man sentenced after raid at Boston shop uncovers more than 48,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 2kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco

Rizgard Shahad Nuri, 34, of Horseshoe Way, Peterborough, appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court on December 15 in relation to the finds.

The illicit goods were discovered during a raid by Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police at a unit in Church Lane, Boston, on August 29. A spokesman for Trading Standards said the bulk of the items were found in a vacant shop next door.

Nuri faced 12 charges in total:

• One count of acquiring, using or being in possession of criminal property, namely 48,580 cigarettes and 2050g of hand-rolling tobacco.
• Three counts of being in possesion, custody or control in the course of a business, goods which bore a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trade mark.
• Four counts of producing or supplying a tobacco product that breached regulations relating to the colour and shade of cigarette packaging.
• Four counts of supplying a tobacco product that breached regulations to do with the display of combined health warnings, general warnings and information messages.

Nuri pleaded guilty to all the offences.

For the first count, he received a community order and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

For the other 11 charges, no separate penalty was given.

Nuri was also instructed to pay the victim surcharge of £114, and £2,240.33 in costs.

All illicit goods involved in the case were seized.

Following the case, Coun Alex McGonigle, executive councillor for community safety at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We're clamping down hard on rogue traders who put residents' lives at risk by selling unsafe illegal tobacco products.

“We work closely with Lincolnshire Police to tackle this trade head on, helping to ensure our town centres remain a safe, welcoming place to live and visit.”