An Oxford business owner has been fined for illegal tobacco and nicotine product offences in what is believed to be one of the first examples of this practice in the UK. 

Oxford Shop in George Street had 800 cigarettes, 168 vapes and 326 unit packs of nicotine pouches taken away.

Trading Standards seized the goods from the shop on March 15, 2024 while business owner Bashar Mizori, 53, watched on.

On April 30, 2024 a further undercover test purchase was carried out and illicit cigarettes were purchased from the shop.

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As a result, more illegal vapes were confiscated the following day.

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s head of trading standards, said the case is believed to be one of the first in the UK involving illegal pouches.

Nicotine pouches are not currently age-restricted and, unlike vapes, there is no bespoke legislation limiting their nicotine content.

He said: “This is our first completed case involving illegal pouches and, as we understand it, one of the first in the UK.  

"Nicotine is highly addictive, and some of the seized products claimed to have very high levels of nicotine content. 

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“The majority were also not labelled in English, so had no instructions for safe use, or what to do if one was accidentally swallowed, which could lead to poisoning."

At Oxford Magistrates' Court on June 13, Mizori - the sole director of Oxford Shop Ltd - pleaded guilty to eight offences.

He was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine (reduced by one third following an early guilty plea), victim surcharge of £400, and a contribution towards costs of £3,500.

He also pleaded guilty on behalf of his company, Oxford Shop Ltd, to eight offences and was fined £5,000 (reduced by one third for an early guilty plea), a victim surcharge of £2,000, and a contribution towards costs of £3,500.

The total to pay in this case amounted to £15,400. All seized items were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “Thank you to the team for all of their work in bringing this case to court.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby Councillor Jenny Hannaby "It shows that Oxfordshire’s trading standards team, working in partnership with other agencies, will continue to crack down on the sale of illegal products.

“People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco and related items should contact 0300 999 6 999 to report it anonymously.