Leeds shopkeeper in court for £13,000 illegal tobacco haul

A Leeds shopkeeper has been handed a suspended prison sentence for possessing with intent to supply a large stash of cheap, illegal cigarettes and tobacco with a total street value of £13,000.
ll
l

Honar Jafar Rafik, owner of the Bolek I Lolek and Tola stores in Dewsbury Road, received a 16-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, at Leeds Magistrates’ Court having admitted the offences.

In total, Rafik admitted having in his possession with intent to supply more than 63,000 illegal cigarettes and nearly 5kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The case was brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service whose officers acted on intelligence from members of the public to carry out inspections on premises operated by Rafik earlier this year.

Rafik told the court he had bought the tobacco products for approximately £7,500.

The shopkeeper was also ordered to pay £2,739.72 towards prosecution costs, a fine of £3,000 and an £80 victim surcharge.

Related topics: