Solihull Council has successfully prosecuted the director of Boss Mart 2 Ltd and his business at 53 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull after they were found guilty of selling various illegal tobacco products and disposable vapes. The company was also found guilty of selling disposable vapes to a child.
Mr Afzal Mir, aged 25 of Shirestone Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the charges against him and he and his business were fined a total of £5,800 at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday 11 February 2025. He was handed a fine of £2,000 plus a victim surcharge of £800 and was ordered to pay £3,000 costs.
The prosecution follows several operations that were carried out by staff at Solihull Council’s Trading Standards Team last year and they received a complaint. The team seized 1,085 illegal disposable vapes, 120 packets of illegal tobacco and 13 packs of illegal hand rolling tobacco on 18 January 2024. At a second inspection on 16 April 2024, they also seized 1,624 illegal disposable vapes, 125 packets of illegal tobacco, 13 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 32 packets of Naswar, a type of chewing tobacco which is illegal in the UK.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said: “Selling vapes to children poses a serious health risk to our children and young people and illegal cigarettes and vapes sold at low prices can make the products attractive and encourage smoking and vaping at an early age. Not only that but many of the seized vapes contain much more nicotine.
“Illegal tobacco products usually contain high levels of tar and nicotine, as well as other unknown and unregulated substances. It is therefore right and proper that businesses that ignore the law and sell these dangerous and illegal products face prosecution, fines and even imprisonment.
“I would like to thank the Council’s Trading Standards team for their continued work to ensure businesses operating in Solihull comply with their legal obligations, and for following up this complaint successfully. The resident’s complaint and the team’s actions have ensured that these harmful products will not be sold.”
Residents who are concerned about a business selling illegal and dangerous products can contact Solihull Council's Trading Standards team by calling Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or visit Contact the consumer service - Citizens Advice