Birmingham boss denies selling fake tobacco products

A Birmingham supermarket boss has denied selling illegal cigarette and vape products in his store.

Najib Ahmadzai, director of Zain Mini Market in Washwood Heath Road, pleaded not guilty to 11 charges brought against both him and his company at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 10.

All the offences are said to have taken place on March 19 last year.

The first charge related to 23 packets of Sobranie Black Cigarettes which allegedly contravened the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Another two charges related to 10 packets of fake Lambert & Butler Original Silver cigarettes on sale which allegedly breach the Trade Marks Act 1994.

A fourth charge related to 21 packs of fake Richmond Cigarettes which, again, are said to be in breach of the Trade Marks Act 1994.

Two more charges brought for allegedly contravening the Trade Marks Act 1994 related to six packets of fake Benson & Hedges Special Filter cigarettes and 16 packets of fake Rothmans cigarettes.

Both the director and store are also accused of having FireRose Ex 4,500 puffs Fresh Mint, the unit pack of which did not carry a required health warning, contrary to the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

Likewise, they are also accused of supplying 110 ENE Legend 3,500 puffs Blueberry Bubblegum, which also didn’t have the required combined health warning.

A further two charges also allege that the company and director had vape products on sale without the required health warning, namely 89 R & M Tornado 9,000 puffs Watermelon Brazz Ice and 330 Hayati Pro Max 4,000+ puffs Pineapple Ice.

And the final charge relates to the sale of 50 packets of smokeless tobacco which did not carry a combined health warning as required by regulation 5 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, in that intended to be used as oral snuff that is banned.

The case was adjourned until March 5 next year for a trial to take place.