05/12/2024 - Seizure of illegal cigarettes and medicines from Luton store

The court heard that sales of counterfeit cigarettes had taken place at the premises and when visited by Trading Standards and HMRC, was in possession of over 400 foreign labelled medicines. Of these, 81 medicines were prescription-only and five were prescription-only plus controlled drugs, classed as Class C drugs.

Mr Chita was sentenced to a six-month community order with a curfew requirement to be electronically monitored between the hours of 7.30pm and 4am daily, to expire on 26 May 2025. He was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £2,338.

Luton Trading Standards have launched a campaign to investigate and prosecute those who sell illicit cigarettes and non-English labelled prescription and non-prescription medicines.

Councillor Maria Lovell MBE, Portfolio Holder for Trading Standards, said: “We’re fully committed to preventing the sale of illegal cigarettes and foreign labelled medicines in Luton. Our Trading Standards team works tirelessly to take action against those who sell these illicit products and put our communities at risk and this successful prosecution is just another example of that.”

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC, continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”

Anyone with information on premises and individuals selling and storing illicit tobacco, shisha and vape pens in Luton either from a shop, online, or from a domestic premises or vehicle can report in confidence here: keep-it-out.co.uk/