Confiscation Order for Bradford retailer convicted of supplying illicit tobacco
Friday 31 OctoberA Bradford shopkeeper who ignored a warning from Trading Standards Officers and went on to sell more counterfeit and smuggled tobacco products has been ordered to pay more than £72,000 in illicit earnings following a Proceeds of Crime Act Application by West Yorkshire Trading Standards.
Mr Kamran KHAN from Bradford appeared at Bradford Crown Court on the 30th October 2025 where he was ordered to pay £72,561.16 or face jail. This figure was largely arrived at through money deposited into KHAN’S bank accounts as well as a large amount of cash seized from his shop premises.
On the 16th December 2022, Kamran KHAN appeared at Bradford Crown Court after pleading guilty to selling illicit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco from his business, Kamran Food Store, 252 St Stephens Road, Bradford, BD5 7HJ in both August 2017 and November 2021. He subsequently received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work.
The shop premises were well known to West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS) with the Service having received complaints about the premises supplying illicit and duty-free tobacco. As such, on 9th August 2017 a counterfeit packet of Amber Leaf hand rolling tobacco was purchased for £3.50. The normal price for this item at that time was around £25.00.
On 10th August 2017, an inspection visit was conducted by Trading Standards Officers at Kamran Food Store whereby Kamran KHAN was working at the time and confirmed it was his business.
A search of the store was conducted, and illegal tobacco was recovered from behind the counter and from a storeroom. Almost 5,000 cigarettes and over 1kg of hand rolling tobacco was seized.
On the 26th November 2021, as a result of further information received about the continued sale of illegal tobacco, a further inspection visit was conducted by Trading Standards Officers at Kamran Food Store. Working at the store again was Kamran KHAN who confirmed that he still owned the business.
A search of the store was conducted, and illegal tobacco was recovered from behind the counter, from a filing cabinet in the first-floor office and a first-floor storeroom. The total amount seized was 76,000 cigarettes and almost 1kg of hand rolling tobacco. The street value of this seizure was £17,315 and was a mixture of both counterfeit and non-duty paid items.
Councillor Sue Duffy, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said, “All tobacco is harmful, but the supply of illegal tobacco seriously undermines the drive to reduce smoking, fuels organised criminality and is often a gateway for young people to becoming addicted to a habit which prematurely kills over half its users.”
Linda Davis, Head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards (Protecting Communities) said, “The Proceeds of Crime Act allows us to recoup a criminal’s benefit from crime via confiscation orders, and we will pursue and recover assets of those involved in this type of offending, ensuring they cannot use their ill-gotten gains to further their illegal enterprises. Far from being a victimless crime, the illegal trade in tobacco costs government millions each year in lost revenue, makes it easier for children to start smoking and it is unfair competition on other local retailers.
I would like to encourage members of the public to continue reporting illegal sales so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities.”
If you need to report a trader selling cheap and illicit tobacco, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133 anonymously.
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