Hayes trader receives hefty fine for selling illegal goods
Thursday 6 November 2025: A company, its owner and employee have been ordered to pay more than £12,000 after a Hillingdon Council trading standards investigation uncovered the sale of oversized vapes, illegal tobacco products, and vapes to children.
Arora pleaded guilty to 33 charges in his personal capacity and 35 charges on behalf of the company contrary to the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
Anthony Thomas, 60, of Hamilton Road, Hayes, an employee at Bal Supermarket also appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on the same date and pleaded guilty to one charge of selling unpackaged cigarettes, in breach of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.
Following reports of illicit sales at the shop, the council's trading standards team, assisted by a specially trained tobacco detection dog, carried out an inspection on 13 June 2024. During the visit, officers seized 422 packets of illegal shisha and 415 oversized vapes which were above the legal limit of 2ml.
Furthermore, trading standards conducted a test purchase operation at the store on 16 November 2024, where two volunteers, aged 14 and 16, were each able to purchase a vape, despite being underage. Officers were also sold two single cigarettes outside their original packaging on the same day.
The council received further reports that the shop was continuing to sell illegal tobacco and single cigarettes. This led to another test purchase operation on 11 January 2025, where officers were sold two single cigarettes by Thomas.
During the visit, officers also seized illegal tobacco products, including 1,340 cigarettes without UK packaging and non-duty paid, 200g of counterfeit rolling tobacco, 176 packets of oral tobacco with incorrect health warning labelling and non-duty paid tobacco without UK packaging, and seven oversized vapes.
The court ordered Arora to pay a fine of £1,500, a victim surcharge of £1,200 and half of the council's prosecution costs of £3,150, which totalled £5,850.
The company, FS Arora UK Ltd, was ordered to pay a fine of £1,500, a victim surcharge of £1,200 and half of the council's prosecution costs of £3,150, which totalled £5,850.
Thomas was fined £217 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £87.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: "We're determined to keep Hillingdon a safe borough and tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes to protect residents from harm.
"It's already concerning that vapes are being marketed to children by manufacturers but it's simply unacceptable for business owners to be selling age-restricted products to children.
"Our trading standards team works tirelessly to catch retailers who flout the law and where possible take them to court."
If you suspect a business is selling illegal products or age-restricted products to under-18s, email tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk or call 01895 250164 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm).
For other consumer related issues contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
