Dad Avoids Jail for Illegal Cigarettes at Waterloo Stores

A dad, Ismail Muhammed, avoided jail time. He helped buy and sell illegal cigarettes. This happened in Stoke-on-Trent at Waterloo Stores. Two other men were involved too. The council investigated for a long time. Someone bought fake cigarettes at the store several times during test purchases.

Police entered Muhammed’s neighbor’s home and linked him to the illegal activity. He received a suspended nine-month sentence, and must also do 100 hours of unpaid work. The prosecutor said three men bought cigarettes and tobacco. Police took £17,000 and 1,400 packets of cigarettes, all of which were illegal.

Test buys happened at Waterloo Stores in 2019, where buyers got fake cigarettes. Muhammed lived next to his partner in crime. Police searched both homes under a warrant, finding cash and illegal tobacco. These items were also in their cars.

Police forced entry into a co-defendant’s house where he threw things out the window, including a van key. The key opened his van parked outside. Police found £6,000 inside one property, along with fake cigarettes in boxes. Some cigarettes seemed real, yet lacked duty payments.

Muhammed had the key to the Ford van and was linked to Waterloo Stores by papers. He lived on Sage Close in Hanley, admitting to possessing and acquiring criminal property. In 2016, he had sold fake trademark cigarettes. Muhammed has a wife and child, and his lawyer agreed to forfeit the cash.

The judge spoke of evaded public duty and fake tobacco sales, noting that Waterloo Stores was the center for the crime. The goal was to dodge duty fees, boosting profit and increasing income. The investigation was thorough and police seized £17,000 in cash and 1,390 packets of counterfeit or duty-unpaid cigarettes. The judge ordered destruction of all tobacco and the cash forfeiture.