Man fined for illegal trading

Mr Somsul Haq of Quaker Street, Shoreditch, was fined almost £2,000 at Thames Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of illegal street trading. He had been found selling imported cigarettes in Whitechapel Market by Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers in August last year. Officers seized 32 packets of cigarettes and five packets of hand-rolling tobacco which were passed to Tower Hamlets Council’s Consumer and Business Regulations service.

Mr Haq appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on 9th April and was found guilty of two offences – distributing products with non-English health warnings and illegal street trading. The court heard how Mr Haq had previously been cautioned for a similar offence and ruled he pay £600 for the lack of English health warnings, £200 for illegal street trading, costs of £1,138 and a £60 victim surcharge.

•The council takes selling illegally imported tobacco products and those trading without the necessary street trading licence in Tower Hamlets very seriously. If you suspect someone of illegally trading in the borough, you can contact Tower Hamlets Consumer and Business Regulations on 020-7364 5008.