Hillingdon Council has prosecuted two brothers involved in an illicit tobacco operation in Hayes following an investigation by its trading standards team.
Sonu, aged 29, and Tajinder, aged 31, of Hayes, pleaded guilty to 18 offences related to the possession of illicit tobacco products with the intention to sell them. The sentencing took place on Monday 28 October at Isleworth Crown Court.
Sonu received a 12-month community order, requiring 600 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £5,039 in costs and a victim surcharge. Tajinder received a 12-month community order, requiring 140 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and a victim surcharge.
In March 2021, trading standards officers conducted a search of a self-storage facility on Nestles Avenue in Hayes as part of ‘Operation CeCe’, a nationwide initiative targeting the supply of illicit tobacco products. With the assistance of tobacco detection dogs, officers uncovered £126,000 worth of illegal tobacco, including more than 225,000 cigarettes and 54kg of rolling tobacco. Further inspection revealed that some products were counterfeit, while others were intended for markets outside the UK.
Both individuals were served confiscation orders under section 80 of the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover funds from their illegal activities. On 31 January 2024, Tajinder was ordered to repay £1,605.95, and on 12 September 2024, Sonu was ordered to repay £125,000.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: “We’re committed to keeping Hillingdon a safe borough where communities can thrive, and this is another excellent result for our trading standards team who work tirelessly to protect residents from harm.
“Many of the products seized in this case were smuggled into the UK without paying tax, which should be going towards vital services across the country, while the counterfeit goods pose serious health risks.”
For more information or to report a business suspected of selling illegal products, email tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk. For other consumer-related issues, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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