A Dagenham shopkeeper who sold large amounts of illicit tobacco has been ordered to pay a hefty fine following an investigation by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) Trading Standards.
When Officers visited Gospodina Europe Market on Rainham Road South, Dagenham, in November 2023 and March 2024, they found 1,980 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes hidden around the store. The items were uncovered with the help of specially trained tobacco detection dogs.
The inspections were carried out as part of Operation CeCe, a National Trading Standards and HMRC-supported initiative to crack down on illegal cigarette sales.
Appearing at Barkingside Magistrates Court on 19 November the shop’s owner, Ciprian Marius Constantin, pleaded guilty to supplying illicit cigarettes and was ordered to pay a fine of £700, plus costs of £1,076.01 and a surcharge of £280. The business was separately fined £1,166 plus costs of £1076.01 and a surcharge of £466.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety at LBBD, said: “This is an example of the council’s ongoing efforts to combat the sale of illicit tobacco which we take very seriously in Barking and Dagenham. I hope the fine is a warning to others.”
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