A business in Willesden Green has been fined nearly £7,000 after the local authorities Trading Standards team seized more than 1,000 packets of illegal tobacco. The owner pleaded guilty to two charges at the court hearing on 16 April
Marys London Ltd, which trades as the Food Shop and based at 268 Willesden High Road, appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court where it pleaded guilty to charges of incorrect health warnings and products for sale which were not in the standardised packaging.
Trading Standards carried out an investigation after a complaint was made to the council regarding the shop’s sale of illegal tobacco. The team was able to verify the claim resulting in the local authority taking legal action against the business.
Despite the company’s claim that there were some health warnings on their products, the judge determined that compliance measures had not been met and that the premises had been doing this type of business for some time.
The court imposed a fine of £3,333 on Marys London Ltd. The business was also ordered to pay Brent Council’s investigation and legal costs of £2,143.50, along with a victim surcharge of £1,333. Brent Council said it would continue to carry out test purchases and inspections “to ensure businesses are complying with sales legislation”.
The council’s Corporate Director for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, Jehan Weerasinghe, said: “Businesses that ignore tobacco regulations put public health at risk and gain an unfair advantage over those who follow the law. We will continue to take firm action against anyone selling illegal products in Brent.”
The latest prosecution comes after a Kingsbury business was fined for selling a nicotine vape to a child during a test purchase operation. Ragulans Brothers Ltd at 628 Kingsbury Road pleaded guilty to selling a nicotine inhaling product to a person under the age of 18 during a hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court in January.
The initial investigation took place after local residents complained to the council that the shop was selling vapes to schoolchildren.
Despite the company’s claim that proper procedures were followed, magistrates determined that compliance measures had not been met.
The court imposed a fine of £1,200, as well as ordering the business to pay Brent Council’s investigation and legal costs totalling £1,196, along with a victim surcharge of £480.
Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, Cllr Krupa Sheth, said: “It’s great to see our continued efforts to crack down on illegal tobacco in Brent delivering results. We won’t stop there – we’re determined to protect our residents and support legitimate businesses.
“This is all part of our plan to take back our high streets one action at a time. We encourage anyone with intelligence about illegal activity in the borough to come forward and help us”.
