Illicit tobacco trader ordered to repay £21,000

A shopkeeper who made more than £225,000 selling illegal vapes and tobacco has been ordered to repay just £21,000 of his criminal gains.

Barzen Mahmood-Poor, 32, was given a six month jail term, suspended for 18 months, last year after pleading guilty to 10 offences of selling counterfeit products at Manor Mini Market.

Now, following a proceeds of crime hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, he has been told he must pay back £21,285 within three months or face nine months in jail.

Mahmood-Poor of City Road, Sheffield, was prosecuted following an investigation by Sheffield City Council's Trading Standards team.

The court heard Mahmodd-Poor had earned £228,502.25 in total but had just £21,284.95 in realisable assets.

Councillor Joe Otten, chair of the waste and street scene committee, said: "Traders who continually break the law and cause harm will be made accountable for their crimes, and they absolutely need to recognise the harm they cause.

"Those who buy from them are also contributing to the harm that can be caused by illegal products that are incorrectly labelled, and which contain harmful substances and excessively high illegal levels of nicotine.

"Everyone, including children and young people, needs to be safe from harm and we are determined to make sure that they are not put at risk wherever possible."

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