The Royal Borough of Greenwich has successfully fined an Eltham business £17,258 for selling illegal vapes.
On Wednesday 26 March, Mr Hassam Zia, director of Repairs 4 Mobile on Eltham High Street, plead guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court for selling mislabelled vapes, some which featured unauthorised trademarks of sweet brands and cartoon-style images of fruit-based characters.
Following resident complaints, the business had been visited multiple times by the council, first in April 2022, and guidance on legal selling practises was provided. Last July, 603 illegal vapes were still found to be on sale at the premises and seized.
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said: “This fine is a great outcome and sends a message of the council’s no-tolerance approach to the sale of illegal vapes. These vapes were clearly marketed towards minors, which is completely unacceptable and dangerous, so the fine reflects the seriousness of the offence.
“We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our residents are safe and feel safer, especially when it comes to prosecuting traders that market dangerous products so deliberately to children and young people. We hope this substantial fine sends a message to anyone seeking to trade harmful goods in our borough.”
Mr Zia and the company were each fined £2,500, with victim compensation charges of £1,000 and costs of £5,129, totalling £17,258 to be paid between the company and director.
Mr Zia said that he had been experiencing medical problems, and his staff had been selling these vapes without his permission.
To report the illegal sale of vapes or tobacco products, please contact [email protected] or you can report it anonymously on www.londontradingstandards.org.uk/report-consumer-crime
