Worthing Shop Owner Fined After Sniffer Dog Finds Illegal Cigarettes

A Worthing shop owner has been fined £1,000 following the discovery of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in a van behind his premises.

The incident occurred during a series of tobacco inspections conducted by Trading Standards in September 2022.

During the inspections, officers and a sniffer dog searched Ideal Supermarket in Rowlands Road, Worthing, owned by Shaswar Rajbari. Although no tobacco was found inside the shop, the sniffer dog indicated the presence of tobacco in a van at the rear of the store.

On opening the van, 382 packets of illicit tobacco and cigarettes were seized. Brand representatives confirmed the products were either counterfeit, non-duty paid, or intended for sale in other countries.

Rajbari, from Skegness, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to charges related to possessing counterfeit and foreign-labelled tobacco and evading excise duty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court. Alongside the fine, he was ordered to pay costs of £1,957.65 and a £400 victim surcharge. West Sussex Trading Standards emphasised their commitment to combating the sale of illegal tobacco and supporting compliant businesses.