A Hinckley shop worker has been sentenced to community service after being convicted of selling counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vaping products following a targeted enforcement operation in the town.
Farhad Rasuli, who was working at Hinckley International Store Ltd on Regent Street, appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday 22 January. He pleaded guilty to 15 offences relating to the sale and possession of counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes, including items found at a flat above the premises.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
The court imposed an 18-month Community Order, requiring Rasuli to complete 135 hours of unpaid work.
The conviction followed targeted enforcement action carried out on 1 May 2025 as part of Operation Hind — a joint initiative between Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards team and Leicestershire Police aimed at tackling the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products across the county.
During a test purchase conducted that morning, Trading Standards officers bought counterfeit cigarettes for £4 a packet and an oversized vape for £10 from Rasuli. Subsequent testing confirmed that both products were illegal, with the vape containing three times the legal limit of nicotine liquid.
Around an hour later, officers returned to the shop with police, arrested Rasuli and carried out a search of the premises. A hidden, electromagnetic-operated cupboard was discovered in the storeroom, containing counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes. In total, 62 packets of cigarettes and 72 vapes were seized from the shop.
A further search of a flat above the premises uncovered an additional 260 packets of illegal cigarettes and 157 illegal vapes. Officers also searched other nearby shops on the same day as part of the wider operation.
Of the tobacco seized, 18 packets were confirmed as counterfeit. All 62 packets breached UK tobacco regulations by failing to carry legally required health warnings, while 54 also breached the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015. Every vape tested contained between 5ml and 10ml of nicotine liquid — up to five times the legal limit.
Following the sentencing, Councillor Virge Richichi, cabinet member for regulatory services, said illegal tobacco and vape sales posed serious risks. He said: “This activity is not harmless. It fuels organised criminality, undermines legitimate businesses and puts consumers at risk.
“A meaningful sentence for sellers sends a clear deterrent message and helps to reduce crime. These enterprises rely on a steady supply of people willing to break the law. Holding them accountable is essential.”
Trading Standards said it is intensifying its work with police to target sellers, supply networks and landlords who allow illegal trading to take place on their premises, as part of the broader Operation Hind strategy.
Gary Connors, head of regulatory services, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco and vapes has become increasingly organised and prevalent on our high streets.
“Our ongoing efforts make it abundantly clear that anyone engaging in this kind of illegal activity in Leicestershire will be prosecuted. Tackling this problem is vital, both for protecting public health and safeguarding the local economy.”
Anyone who suspects a business is selling illegal vapes or cigarettes is encouraged to report it via Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards service.
