Trader guilty of trying to sell fake cigarettes

Abdullah Al-Taaei, 48, of Kennington, was due to stand trial on July 6 at the Inner London Crown Court, but pleaded guilty before the trial got underway. The offences took place in March 2014 and concerned more than 82,000 cigarettes as well as hand rolling tobacco, sold at East Street Market, in Southwark. The court heard that following an anonymous tip-off, Al-Taaei had been subject to surveillance by Southwark Council’s trading standard team over a three month period in early 2014. Officers saw Mr Al-Taaei leaving a flat in SE1 for East Street market with a rucksack and shopping bag trolley. CCTV footage from the market showed that these contained cigarettes and tobacco, which he appeared to sell.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/trader-guilty-of-trying-to-sell-21000-of-fake-cigarettes-10426656.html