Trading Standards continue crackdown on illegal vapes and tobacco

A number of cases have come to court in recent months, including:

Milano Services Limited

Azhar Akbar, aged 40, of Fitzroy Avenue, Luton, Director of Milano Services Limited, Leagrave Road, was sentenced at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 9 June for the possession and sale of illegal vapes.

Following a visit by Luton Trading Standards in February 2025, nearly 500 illegal vapes concealed at the premises were seized. Further sales took place afterwards, along with two further small seizures.

Mr Akbar admitted five charges and was fined £5,000, ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,661 in costs, a total of £9,661.

Chapel Street Groceries

Chapel Street Groceries, 5 Chapel Street, Luton, was issued with a three-month Closure Order following a contested hearing at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 3 July, due to repeated sales of illicit tobacco. 

Vapes Bazaar

Mohammed Abul Hasan, aged 40, of Essex Street, Luton, Director of HD Store-UK Limited, trading as Vapes Bazaar, appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 7 July in relation to multiple offences involving illegal vapes and cigarettes.

The court heard there had been multiple sales of vapes between October 2024 and March 2025, as well as several seizures of illicit vapes and cigarettes between January and June 2025.

The company was fined £7,500, with £2,514.25 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. Mr Hasan was also ordered to pay £2,514.25 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge, totalling £14,642.50. He was sentenced to an 18-month Community Order, 270 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.

Park Shop

Asfen Deno, aged 26, of High Town Road, Luton, owner of Park Shop, 119 Park Street, Luton, was sentenced at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 4 August after pleading guilty to numerous offences of selling illegal cigarettes and being in possession of illegal vapes for sale.

Mr Deno was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, 150 hours unpaid work and a £114 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £2,513.80 in costs, a total of £2,627.80.

Councillor Yaqub Hanif, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “These successful prosecutions demonstrate the diligence of our Trading Standards in protecting residents against those who sell illegal and dangerous products in Luton.

“Illegal tobacco and vapes can cause serious harm to residents’ health and undermine legitimate businesses. We will continue to work to identify those involved in this trade and take action where the law is broken.”

Anyone with information about premises or individuals selling or storing illicit cigarettes, tobacco, shisha or vapes in Luton can report it in confidence via the Keep It Out website.