Counterfeit tobacco and laughing gas seized from local shop

A Chepstow shopkeeper has been found guilty of supplying counterfeit and illegally-labelled tobacco as well as the possession of canisters of nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas.

Farhank Ameen, the owner of the European Mini Market, Welsh St, Chepstow was fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £1,100 costs at Newport Magistrates Court.

The investigation by Monmouthshire’s trading standards followed a tip-off information from members of the public that the shop was selling cheap cigarettes.

Officers visited the store seizing over 900 packets of cigarettes and more than 500 pouches of tobacco.

A proportion were found to be counterfeit and the rest failed to satisfy required safety warnings.

Officers also seized over 1,100 canisters of nitrous oxide - a product commonly known as laughing gas - which lacked correct warning labels and were suspected of being sold for the purposes of intoxication.