A SURPRISE raid by trading standards on a shop in Ruislip uncovered illicit tobacco products on sale.

Aman Singh and his company, Devi Enterprises, trading as am2pm at 38 High Street each pleaded guilty to nine offences at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.  

Singh and his company were ordered to pay more than £4,000 for selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco without the correct safety packaging and oversized vapes.

These products were not intended for the UK market and had no UK duty tax paid on them.    

Hillingdon Council officers conducted an unannounced inspection of the shop in December 2022.

Assisted by a trained tobacco detection dog, they identified a car outside the shop with a boot full of illicit tobacco products, including, 920 cigarettes, 750g of rolling tobacco, which did not have the required safety warnings, and 69 over-sized vapes. 

During a previous visit to the store in September 2022, officers had already seized and destroyed a batch of 44 illegal vapes. 

In total, the court ordered Singh and his company to pay £4,339.94, which included a fine of £1,666, a victim surcharge of £666 and the council's prosecution costs of £2,007.94 for breaching tobacco and trademark laws.

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “This case shows a business owner with a clear intention to cut costs and sell illicit goods for profit at the expense of our residents’ safety, despite a previous warning.”  

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