Najib Ahmadzai, the director of Zain Mini Market located on Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, has denied allegations of selling illegal cigarette and vape products. He appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, 10 September, pleading not guilty to 11 charges brought against himself and his company.
The offences are alleged to have occurred on 19 March of the previous year. Among the charges is the sale of 23 packets of Sobranie Black Cigarettes, purportedly in violation of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Additional charges include the sale of counterfeit cigarettes, with two counts involving 10 packets of fake Lambert & Butler Original Silver and 21 packets of fake Richmond cigarettes, both allegedly breaching the Trade Marks Act 1994. Further accusations relate to six packets of counterfeit Benson & Hedges Special Filter and 16 packets of fake Rothmans cigarettes, also in breach of the Trade Marks Act.
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The company and director are also accused of supplying vape products that lacked the mandatory health warnings required under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. These include the FireRose EX4500 puffs Fresh Mint and ENE Legend 3500 puffs Blueberry Bubblegum. Additional vape products mentioned in the charges are 89 R & M Tornado 9000 puffs Watermelon Brazz Ice and 330 Hayati Pro Max 4000+ puffs Pineapple Ice, similarly missing health warnings.
The final charge alleges the sale of 50 packets of smokeless tobacco, intended for use as oral snuff, which did not display the required combined health warning and are banned under the regulations.
The case has been adjourned and is scheduled for trial on 5 March next year.