It uncovered the sale of oversized vapes, illegal tobacco products and vapes to children.
Fateh Singh Arora, 41, of Hounslow, company director of FS Arora UK Ltd, trading as Bal Supermarket, 65-67 Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.
Arora pleaded guilty to 33 charges in his personal capacity and 35 charges on behalf of the company, contrary to tobacco regulations.
Anthony Thomas, 60, of Hamilton Road, Hayes, an employee at Bal Supermarket. also appeared on the same day and admitted one charge of selling unpackaged cigarettes.
Following reports of illicit sales at the shop, the trading standards team, assisted by a tobacco detection dog, carried out an inspection in 2024.
During the visit, officers seized 422 packets of illegal shisha and 415 oversized vapes, which were above the legal limit.
Furthermore, in a test purchase operation at the store in November 2024, two volunteers, aged 14 and 16, were each able to purchase a vape, despite being under-age.
The council received further reports that the shop was continuing to sell illegal tobacco and single cigarettes. This led to another test purchase operation in January this year, when officers were sold two single cigarettes by Thomas.
During the visit, officers also seized illegal tobacco products, including 1,340 cigarettes without UK packaging and non-duty paid, 200g of counterfeit rolling tobacco, 176 packets of oral tobacco with incorrect health warnings and non-duty paid tobacco without UK packaging, plus seven over-sized vapes.
The court ordered Arora himself to pay a fine of £1,500, a victim surcharge of £1,200 and half of the council’s prosecution costs of £3,150, which totalled £5,850.
The company, FS Arora UK Ltd, was ordered to pay a fine of £1,500, a victim surcharge of £1,200 and half of the council’s prosecution costs of £3,150, which totalled £5,850.
Thomas was fined £217 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £87.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: “We’re determined to keep Hillingdon a safe borough and tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes to protect residents from harm.”
If you suspect a business is selling illegal products or age-restricted products to under-18s, email tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk or call 01895 250164 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm).
