Shop owner jailed over illegal tobacco and vapes

A shop owner has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to selling counterfeit cigarettes.

Police seized thousands of illegal vapes and tobacco in a raid on Karwan Dewari Khatab's store in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

The Fresh Fruit and Grocery shop on Southgate was closed following a court order in 2024, Lincolnshire Trading Standards said.

Khatab, 43, was also told to pay £11,700 in costs at Lincoln Crown Court on 29 May.

Trading standards said more than 5,400 illicit cigarettes and vapes were seized, along with 3.45kg of hand-rolling tobacco.

Some of the items were hidden in jigsaw boxes.

Khatab, of St Giles Road, Derby, committed similar offences at a shop he owned in Cheltenham, trading standards said.

Principal trading standards officer Andy Wright said: "Offending at Mr Khatab's Sleaford store was brazen, with a member of staff caught red-handed attempting to sell an illegal vape to an underage child in front of a police officer.

"These vapes exceeded the legal puff limit by several thousand and can be a dangerous gateway to a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

"More offences took place at his Cheltenham shop, where counterfeit cigarettes were sold during all 27 test purchases that were made."

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