Derby Man Pleads Guity After Police Find Counterfeit Cigarettes

A man has been handed a suspended sentence after police caught him transporting £174,000 worth of fake Mayfair cigarettes while driving without insurance.

Soran Hassan, 29, of Northumberland Street, Normanton, was driving a Ford Transit when police pulled him over on the A52 at Mickleover on June 20th, 2014. Hassan, who did not hold a driving licence or insurance, was arrested and the vehicle seized after officers searching the van found 37 boxes of counterfeit Mayfair cigarettes worth a staggering £174,000.

Detective Constable Nicola Richardson said:

"This case shows that Derbyshire Constabulary will take robust action to find, disrupt and bring before the courts those who are involved in this activity. There are no controls over what is mixed into counterfeit cigarettes, making cheaper tobacco more readily available to the young and vulnerable.

"People buying counterfeit cigarettes are putting their health at risk and funding organised criminal enterprises.

"The forfeiture of this van shows that as well as not gaining from this crime, people stand to lose their own property when caught."

Hassan was handed a 10 month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing criminal property and driving without a licence and while uninsured. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work while being supervised by the probation service for 12 months.

If you've been charged with possession of counterfeit merchandise or criminal property, contact our crime solicitors on 0845 603 0708 for advice.

The Johnson Partnership

Crime Solicitors