From: Burton Mail
By Laura Hammond
WHEN Amir Rashid stood before magistrates to receive his sentence for selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco, he joined a number of people in the same boat.
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Khalid Mahmood, prosecuting, told Burton Magistrates’ Court: “The offences have an impact on legitimate businesses, and in the case of counterfeit products, there is no control with the ingredients of the contents. They can be of low quality and can be dangerous and harmful for the user.
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Councillor Mike Lawrence, who deals with Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We want people to understand the real harm illicit tobacco has on people’s health.
“It is unregulated and often contains higher tar levels and hazardous substances.”
