A HAYES trader was ordered to pay more than £3,400 by Uxbridge magistrates for selling fake tobacco. 

Kultar Rajwansi, of Universal Food Store, 622-626 Uxbridge Road, pleaded guilty to 26 offences of selling illegal tobacco products. 

Hillingdon Council’s trading standards team carried out an inspection in March 2022 after receiving reports from concerned residents. 

They were assisted by a trained tobacco detection dog, which resulted in the seizure of more than 4,500 illegal cigarettes and 4.55kg of smokeless tobacco which were not intended for the home market and had no UK duty tax paid on them. 

In total, the court ordered Rajwansi to pay £3,473 which included a fine of £853, victim surcharge of £341 and the council’s costs of £2,279.   

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: “Retailers caught flouting the law and selling any kind of illegal tobacco products, which can severely harm the health of our residents, will be investigated andx, where possible, taken to court.”

To report a business selling illegal products, email tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk