On 20th October 2015 at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court, Gareth Mason of Forsythia Close, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil pleaded guilty to 16 charges relating to the supply and possession of illegal tobacco and cigarettes. Following the guilty pleas he was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £1,700.
The charges were brought by the Trading Standards Service at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council following an undercover operation. Officers posing as customers purchased Golden Virginia and Amber Leaf Tobacco from Mason on four separate occasions in town centre locations. The Tobacco was sold at prices below normal retail sale prices.
The tobacco supplied by Mason was examined and found to be counterfeit and incorrectly labelled, as they did not carry the legally required warnings.
As a result of the test purchases on 1st June, Mason was arrested in the town centre and was found to be in possession of counterfeit Regal Cigarettes and Golden Virginia and Amber leaf Tobacco products.
Councillor David Jones, Portfolio Member for Neighbourhood Services & Public Protection, said: “We are seeing an increase in this sort of crime where consumers think they are getting a deal on cheaper priced products only to be sold potentially unsafe goods. People selling illicit or sub-standard goods anywhere in the County Borough, potentially endangering our residents and financially disadvantaging legitimate traders.
