Conviction follows WalesOnline investigation into shops selling fake cigarettes and super-strong vapes
A man has appeared in court this week to plead guilty to eight offences after being exposed by a local journalist’s investigation.
Conor Gogarty, of WalesOnline, exposed shops selling counterfeit cigarettes and illegally-strong vapes, prompting a Trading Standards investigation.
Officials subseqently raided Bob Marley Vapes in Swansea and found a stash of illegal goods hidden above a fluorescent light.
The owner, Peshawa Zada, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to eight offences including fraudulent business by a sole trader, offering cigarettes with fake Lambert & Butler, Benson & Hedges, and Richmond trademarks, and supplying electronic cigarettes that breached regulations.
The council said its officers had paid the shop “repeated visits” dating back to March 2023 and had been “concerned with continued sales of the illegal vape products and complaints they were being sold to children under the age of 18”.
Conor told readers: “When we visited the St Helen’s Road business Zada went into a back room and retrieved a Chinese-made “watermelon lemon burst” Hayati Pro Max boasting a tank capacity of 10ml — far above the 2ml legal limit meant to protect users from excessive nicotine intake.
“He sold us the vape for £10 and two counterfeit 20-packs of Benson & Hedges “Gold” and “Silver” for £5 each.
“A few minutes later we went into the shop again and confronted Zada over selling illicit items. He responded with a lie: “We don’t do that, brother.”
“Last month we informed Swansea council of the criminal activity at the shop, which was one of seven across south Wales that had sold us illegal cigarettes or vapes during our investigation. Shortly afterwards trading standards officers raided the premises.
“A council spokesman said they “discovered a number of concealed storage areas at the rear of the shop and in the ceiling which contained illegal vapes, along with counterfeit cigarettes”.
