Darlington Borough Council, working alongside Durham Constabulary, has achieved a significant result in their ongoing fight against the illegal tobacco trade.
At a hearing last week at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, Harim Qader was found guilty of offences linked to the sale, storage and packaging of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes.
He was sentenced to a prison term totalling 34 weeks which has been suspended for two years, during which time Qader must complete 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £454.
Qader is the latest in a series of individuals connected to the Bazar Store on Gladstone Street to face enforcement action.
An operation in March 2025 uncovered illegal tobacco products with an estimated street value of more than £24k. and a true retail value of nearly £69k, stored at Qader’s home, which is also the registered office for Bazar Store.
In total, 3,831 packs of illegal cigarettes and 295 packs of hand-rolling tobacco were seized from this address.
Further intelligence also resulted in trading standards officers from the council seizing 484 packs of illegal cigarettes, 39 packs of hand-rolling tobacco and 264 vapes from a private dwelling on Lowe Street, which the occupier claimed belonged to the Bazar Store. These had an estimated street value of £5,852 and true retail value of £11,545.
An additional 319 packs of cigarettes, five packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and 22 vapes were also seized by Durham Police from a commercial waste bin beside Bazar Store, after staff were seen making repeated trips to the bin.
A three-month premises closure order for 122 Gladstone Street (Bazar Store) was issued on 11 June last year and the premises has not re-opened as a mini market since. If required, trading standards officer have the option to apply to the courts for two further three-month premises closure orders for the property on Gladstone street - local authorities do not have powers to permanently close a business.
Councillor Jim Garner, cabinet member for stronger communities, Darlington Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted with the continued progress our colleagues in trading standards are making to frustrate and disrupt the illegal tobacco market, which undermines honest local businesses and places public health at risk by encouraging smoking and targeting young people with pocket money prices.”
Inspector David Littlefair from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, added: “This type of criminal activity helps fund organised crime groups and goes hand-in-hand with drug dealing, child exploitation and money laundering.
”Our commitment to eradicating these illegal operations remains unwavering, and we will continue to work tirelessly with the council to protect our local communities from the very real dangers posed by these businesses.”
Darlington Borough Council says it will continue to monitor problem traders, but adds community support is vital. Anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco, vapes or cigarettes in Darlington is urged to contact tradingstandards@darlington.gov.uk.
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