Skip to content

Two charged after 'illicit cigarettes' seized

Chloe HarcombeWest of England
News imageWiltshire Police The outside of a shop in Swindon. The storefront is black and features several flags. The logo - Lavy Store - is written in white and yellow capital letters. There is a sign in the window to say the premises is closed. Wiltshire Police
Swindon's Lavy Store has been closed for three months

Two men are set to appear in court after illicit tobacco and cigarettes worth £21,000 were seized, police have said.

Wiltshire Police found the alleged counterfeit goods at Swindon's Lavy store on Commercial Road on Thursday. The shop has now been closed for three months.

Zhilwan Qaraman, 30, of Bishopton Road, Stockton on Tees, and Barham Poor, 18, of Morris Street, Rodbourne, have been charged with suspicion of selling or possessing counterfeit goods.

The pair will appear at Swindon Magistrates' Court on 2 April.

More from Wiltshire

PC Paul Bezzant, from Wiltshire Police, said he was "pleased" that the closure order had been granted.

"Had the items we seized been genuine, they would have had a retail value of more than £21,000," he added.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Related internet links