20/01/2023 - Luton shopkeeper in court for the sale of illicit tobacco

In 2021, six test purchases of non-duty paid and counterfeit cigarettes were made at the store. On 5 August 2021, officers from Trading Standards found 908 packs of non-duty paid cigarettes, 19 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 358 niche tobacco products. Further examination of the products indicated that some were counterfeit, whilst others were deemed unsafe as they would not self-extinguish if discarded. Mr Harim was interviewed under caution by Trading Standards. Four further test purchases were made after this interview in 2021.

Mr Harim pleaded guilty to all 15 charges against him. As director of Variety1 Store Limited, trading as Daaniya Variety Store, he was fined £80 alongside a victim surcharge of £95 and £620 in court costs. He received a 12 Month community order and is required to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. The company Variety1 Store Limited was fined £12,000.06 with further court costs of £1,350. The final total for fines issued was £14,145.06.

Councillor Maria Lovell, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety at Luton Council, said “Investigating and gathering information on the sale of illicit tobacco, shisha and vaping products across Luton is a matter of public safety. I would like to thank Luton Trading Standards for their latest successful prosecution”.

“Illicit tobacco is more dangerous than regulated tobacco. Its ingredients are unregulated and cigarettes do not extinguish in the same way as regulated products, increasing the risk of house fires. The sale of illicit tobacco is also often linked to wider organised criminal activity”.