Carmarthenshire County Council Takes Action Against Illegal Tobacco Trade

Investigations revealed that counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were sold at significantly reduced prices, with 100,280 cigarettes and 8.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco seized in total. The legal value of the seized items is £63,514, while their illegal market value is estimated at £26,195. Officers also discovered £32,699.09 in cash during a search of Mr. Mhmood’s residence, along with handwritten records of tobacco quantities. Financial investigations revealed cash credits totalling over £139,000 in accounts linked to Mr. Mhmood and over £43,000 in accounts linked to Mr. Baker and Llanelli Star Ltd., the company associated with the retail operation.

The illegal tobacco trade undermines efforts to reduce smoking prevalence by making tobacco available at extremely low prices, often as little as £5 for a product that would legally cost around £24. This not only disrupts taxation policies but also makes it easier for children to access tobacco and for ex-smokers to relapse. Public health concerns are further heightened as counterfeit tobacco often contains harmful substances such as arsenic, pesticides, and rat poison.

Undercover operations conducted by officers in September 2021 and March 2022 confirmed the sale of illegal tobacco at the Grosik premises. During these operations, officers were sold counterfeit Amber Leaf hand-rolling tobacco and counterfeit Mayfair cigarettes at significantly reduced prices. Additional searches in March and September 2022 uncovered thousands of illegal cigarettes at both the retail premises and the home addresses of the defendants, alongside documents linking them to the illicit operation.

In sentencing, Aran Baker received an immediate custodial sentence of 52 months, while Shoresh Salih Mhmood received 41 months in immediate custody. Both defendants are also subject to further financial investigations to recover the proceeds from their criminal activity.

The Council is committed to addressing the harm caused by illegal tobacco, which affects legitimate businesses, deprives the government of revenue, and poses a serious risk to public health. Both defendants declined to be interviewed as part of the investigation, despite overwhelming evidence linking them to the illegal activity.

Carmarthenshire County Council urges members of the public to report any suspected illegal tobacco activity to Trading Standards or anonymously through Crimestoppers. Every report helps to disrupt criminal networks and protect communities from the harm caused by the illicit tobacco trade.

A spokesperson from Carmarthenshire County Council said:

The illegal tobacco trade poses significant risks not only to public health but also to the integrity of our communities and local businesses. This case highlights the devastating impact of illicit activity, from undermining smoking cessation efforts to funding organised crime.

Carmarthenshire County Council is committed to protecting residents from the harm caused by these unlawful practices and ensuring that those who flout the law are held accountable. I urge everyone to report any suspected illegal tobacco activity to help us safeguard public health and the environment.”

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash