A Penyrheol man has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 by magistrates for selling illegal and counterfeit tobacco products.
Delwyn Howarth, 66, of Thomasville, Penyrheol, admitted six offences under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 regarding the supply and possession of hand rolling tobacco and cigarettes that were not marked with the appropriate health warnings.
He also admitted to a charge under the Trade Marks Act 1994 relating to the supply of counterfeit Richmond Kingsize cigarettes.
Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court was told that in June 2018, Howarth had sold two pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco that were not marked with the required health warnings.
As a result, Howarth’s home was searched and a small quantity of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco was found hidden in a tumble dryer. The cigarettes were counterfeit, and the hand rolling tobacco was not made for sale in the UK, and was not marked with the required health warnings.
Also found in Howarth’s house was £10,000 in cash, which Howarth admitted was from the sale of tobacco products.
Howarth was fined a total of £240, a surcharge of £30 and ordered to pay costs to Caerphilly Trading Standards of £1,512.20
The Court also made an Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, for the £10,000 to be forfeited.
Cllr Eluned Stenner, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection, said: “The concern with this illicit trade is that the tobacco products are often more harmful than the legitimate product and there are no controls over supplying tobacco to children. Making sure we convict people that deal with illicit tobacco like this is hugely important and I am thrilled we have achieved a victory on this case.”