The owner of a shop in Barrow has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit hand rolling tobacco and possessing illegal cigarettes following an investigation by Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards.
On Monday 18 August 2025, Barrow Magistrates court sentenced Bahruz Alyasi, 31, of Duncan Road, Derby, to a 12-month community order of 80 hours of unpaid work as well as costs of £1000 and a victim surcharge or an additional £90.
Bahruz Alyasi had pleaded guilty to two Trade Mark Act offences and one tobacco labelling offence at an earlier hearing.
The council’s Trading Standards Officers visited European Food Store, Dalton Road, Barrow in November 2021 where an officer was sold counterfeit hand rolling tobacco during a test purchase. Officers subsequently seized 206 packets of illegal cigarettes and 850g of hand rolling tobacco from the premise.
Councillor John Murray, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said: “The work carried out by our Trading Standards team sends a clear message—illegal tobacco sales will not be tolerated. Those involved in the storage, distribution, or sale of illicit tobacco will face serious consequences.
"The trade in illegal tobacco harms legitimate businesses, provides a cheap source of cigarettes for children and young people, and undermines efforts to reduce smoking rates. Illegal tobacco sales are also often linked to wider criminal activity.
"Our officers routinely act on intelligence, as they did in this case, so I would encourage consumers to continue to report those involved in selling illicit tobacco, because their valuable information can significantly aid our investigations.”
Anyone with information about illegal tobacco products can contact the Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or visiting www.adviceguide.org.uk.
For more information about free support available in Westmorland and Furness to help you quit smoking for good, visit the council website.