News • Walthamstow

Shop owner fined thousands for selling untaxed cigarettes

20 December, 2022 12:00 am
2 Min Read

The owner told a court his shop was struggling post-Brexit as his customers had left the country
By Waltham Forest Echo

Gospodina in High Street, Walthamstow (credit: Google Streetview)
Gospodina in High Street, Walthamstow (credit: Google Streetview)

The owner of a Walthamstow grocery shop was fined more than £5,000 after he was caught with hundreds of packs of illegal cigarettes for sale.

Gospodina in the High Street was raided in November last year following a tip-off and 574 packs of cigarettes, which had been smuggled into the UK to avoid paying tax, were found.

Owner Nedelcu Manea, trading as Elenny Ltd, admitted his guilt but told Thames Magistrates Court he was selling them because the shop was struggling post-Brexit.

He said this was because many of the regular customers to his Romanian business had left the country. 

Manea pleaded guilty to eight offences related to the sale of tobacco and was ordered to pay a £5190 fine and £190 victim surcharge.

Khevyn Limbajee, cabinet member for community safety at Waltham Forest Council, said: “While the sale of non-duty paid cigarettes might appear fairly innocuous, it can represent the tip of the iceberg that is organised crime, which can often be linked to wider criminality and exploitation of more vulnerable members of our communities.

“Make no mistake, this is not a victimless crime and I hope that the great work of our Trading Standards team sends a strong message to anyone in Waltham Forest willing to deal in illegal tobacco.” 

You can contact Waltham Forest Trading Standards Service to report matters on 0208 496 3000 or [email protected].

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