An illegal tobacco operation uncovered by Portsmouth City Council’s Trading Standards has resulted in three men being sentenced.
Shop owner Bestun Ibrahim Mohammad, pictured above, was jailed for 16 months while two others received suspended sentences for selling fake tobacco at two Portsmouth businesses.
Offending took place across Five Star Shisha on Kingston Road, North End, and Charlotte Mini Market on Charlotte Street in the city centre.
Advanced methods were used to conceal the illicit goods, reported Portsmouth City Council, including an electromagnetic hatch in the ceiling and storing goods in a vehicle nearby.
Portsmouth’s Trading Standards team carried out numerous undercover test purchases and seized significant amounts of fake tobacco valued at £37,000.
Bestun Ibrahim Mohammad played a leading role as the registered owner and director for both shops throughout most of the offending period. Despite being warned, he expanded the criminal operation to a second premises. He was handed an immediate custodial sentence of 16 months.
Shop worker Pasharaw Mohammad was found to be selling the tobacco in secret filming and using his vehicle to conceal the goods. He was sentenced to eight months in custody, suspended for 12 months and will have to complete 100 hours unpaid work.
Khalid Abdulla also had a significant role as a director of both shops for a shorter period and was also found to be selling the fake tobacco. He was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 12 months, and given a 120-day curfew and will have an electronic tag.
At an earlier hearing Bestun Mohammad and Pasharaw Mohammad both pleaded guilty to 34 charges and Kahlid Abdulla pleaded guilty to 18 charges, all related to the sale of illegal tobacco.
“This sentencing, particularly the owner going straight to prison, reflects the seriousness of the offending and how dangerous fake tobacco is, because it often has higher amounts of toxic chemicals,” said Cllr Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport.
“The Council is on the side of honest shopkeepers whose trade is damaged by this illegal activity, and this positive outcome should serve as a warning that those responsible will be brought to justice.”
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