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Largest ever seizure of illegal tobacco by Gloucestershire Trading Standards

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Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has secured its biggest ever seizure of illegal tobacco – more than 50,000 packets of cigarettes and nearly 500 pouches of hand rolling tobacco.

Idris Amin, aged 32, of Vicarage Road, Gloucester, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday 20 May 2026 for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally evading duty on cigarettes and tobacco which he had in his possession for sale.

He was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment. The judge said that only a custodial sentence was appropriate because of the seriousness of the offences.

Amin operated A2Z Shop in Southgate Street, Gloucester, having secured a lease for it using false identification.

On 18 October 2023, Trading Standards officers found Amin at a nearby flat surrounded by 2,284 packets of cigarettes and 117 pouches of hand rolling tobacco. The tobacco had not had the relevant duty paid on it, it was incorrectly labelled for the UK market and much of it was a counterfeit copy of well-known brands.

The tobacco was found in a food delivery bag and neatly stacked on a shelf. It had been stored in the flat rather than the shop to avoid detection during trading standards inspections.

Around a month later, Trading Standards officers visited a self-storage business in Kidderminster and found two storage containers containing illegal tobacco. These containers had been rented by Amin using false identification.

Between them, the two containers contained 50,796 packets of cigarettes and 499 pouches of hand rolling tobacco – the largest ever seizure of illegal tobacco by Gloucestershire Trading Standards.

It had also not had the relevant duty paid on it, was incorrectly labelled and much of it was a counterfeit copy of well known brands.

Amin admitted to being the owner of A2Z Shop and to selling illegal tobacco. The tobacco found at the flat and self-storage business were to be sold from Amin's business. Amin said that the tobacco found in the containers would last for between four and five months.

The total amount of duty evaded by Amin was £429,498.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for Trading Standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “This is the biggest ever seizure of illegal tobacco by our Trading Standards team and shows how determined we are to get these products off the streets. Illegal tobacco poses serious health risks and undermines legitimate businesses. This should serve as a warning that we will pursue those involved in this trade and bring offenders to court.”

Anyone with information about the supply of illegal tobacco can report it to Trading Standards by calling 01452 426060 or visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/trading-standards