Shopkeeper fined £16k for selling illegal vapes

A shopkeeper has been fined more than £16,000 for possessing and selling illegal oversized vapes.

Anwar Sdiq, 44, of Bishopworth in Bristol, pleaded guilty to the offence at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The disposable e-cigarettes being sold at his shop in Yate Shopping Centre contained more than the maximum 2ml nicotine e-liquid limit prescribed by law.

Sdiq was fined £9,549 and ordered to pay council costs of £3,632.33 and £3,180 in victim surcharges, a total of £16,361.33.

Sdiq is the sole director of Worthy Market Bristol Limited, trading as Yate Market.

The court was told charges were brought against Sdiq and his company following a complaint made to South Gloucestershire Council’s Trading Standards service.

Officers made a test purchase of one of the devices and, supported by officers from Avon and Somerset Police, Trading Standards returned to the shop on 30 November 2023 and seized a further 73 disposable e-cigarettes.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I’m pleased to see this considerable fine handed out and the illegal vapes taken off the street.

“The council’s Trading Standards team continue to respond to complaints and undertake routine checks to ensure only legally-compliant vapes are sold to the public."

Mr Rhodes added over the past three years, officers have seized more than 9,500 illegal vapes with a retail value of around £76,000.

“Although vaping is considered far safer than smoking traditional tobacco products, inhaling nicotine through a device is not risk-free," he explained.

"Legislation is in place to regulate products that are placed on the market.

"Those retailers who choose to put profit before compliance can expect a visit from the council’s Trading Standards team.”

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