JTI has revealed that it recently removed a tobacco gantry from a retailer in Cheltenham, after its owner, Mohammed Sedoo was jailed for six months for selling counterfeit and non-UK compliant tobacco products.
Paul Williams, UK Head of Corporate Affairs at JTI said: “Given the conviction of this retailer we decided that the removal of our gantry was the most appropriate course of action. A minority of independent retailers who get sucked into this illegal trade are giving honest hard-working retailers a bad name. Customers who buy tobacco products will eventually lose faith and trust in their local independent shop if a perception grows that the independent trade is rife with ‘dodgy cigs’.”
Williams described JTI’s commitment to support the actions of HMRC and Trading Standards as “steadfast”, saying that they would work together to eradicate this trend. “This prosecution coupled with our action clearly demonstrates that this crime does not pay. Let’s be clear, retailers who sell illegal tobacco risk a criminal conviction, no further support from JTI and where we own the tobacco gantry a risk of losing that too.”
Mohammed Sedoo was a Bestway customer, and the company congratulated JTI on the move, saying: “Bestway has a policy where we monitor retailers’ spending patterns for any anomalies. Mr Sedoo’s spend with Bestway was in line with many other retailers with 85% of his regular Bestway spend being on tobacco products. Consequently there was no need to investigate his account. Bestway has always supported JTI and the other tobacco companies in their stand against the illicit trade in smuggling and counterfeit tobacco products. We will continue to campaign for the strictest penalties possible for retailers who work with criminal elements in the tobacco and alcohol trade.”
Any retailer with information on illegal tobacco trading should report it to the authorities using the Customs Hotline on 0800 595 000.
