Guilty pleas after illicit tobacco and nicotine pouches found at Oxford shop
Two men connected with a Cowley Road vape shop have pleaded guilty to illegal tobacco and nicotine offences following an operation by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.
Employee Farzad Ali Karimy, 28, of Temple Street, Oxford, and owner Yasin Mohammed, 43, of Mulgrove Street, Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at court on Friday 2 October after smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes and non-compliant nicotine pouches were discovered at Dubai Shop on Cowley Road during an inspection on 28 September 2025.
The inspection followed an undercover purchase of a packet of smuggled Marlboro Gold cigarettes for £8.
Officers discovered a quantity of illicit tobacco products in a black bin liner concealed behind the counter and non-compliant nicotine pouches displayed on the shelving.
In total, officers seized 112 packs of cigarettes, three packs of hand-rolling tobacco, four packs of waterpipe tobacco and more than 100 packs of nicotine pouches.
Subsequent examination confirmed a number of the tobacco products were also counterfeit, including Richmond and Lambert & Butler branded cigarettes and Amber Leaf hand rolling tobacco. The investigation also established that excise duty of £1,218.85 had been evaded.
In court, Farzad Ali Karimy pleaded guilty to all offences. He was ordered to pay nearly £900 in fines and costs.
Yasin Mohammed also pleaded guilty to all offences. Sentencing was adjourned and he will appear at court again on 27 November.
Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco undermines legitimate businesses, deprives the public purse of vital revenue and can expose consumers to products that have not been subject to the safeguards required by UK law.
“This prosecution sends a clear message that Oxfordshire County Council will continue to take robust action against businesses and individuals involved in the illegal tobacco trade.”
The court also heard that Mr Mohammed had previously been subject to enforcement action elsewhere in relation to tobacco offences, including the seizure of 18,000 illegal cigarettes from his shop in Bangor in December 2022.
Davina Walkin, Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Operations Manager, added: “Illegal tobacco is not a victimless crime. The illicit market fuels wider criminality, makes tobacco products more accessible and affordable to children, and undermines efforts to reduce smoking-related harm.
“We will continue to respond to intelligence from the public and work with partner agencies to target those who seek to profit from the illegal tobacco trade.”
Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco, nicotine or related products can report it anonymously by calling 0300 999 6 999 or by visiting www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
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Dubai Shop continues to trade under different ownership.
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