THREE Torfaen traders have been fined after being caught selling counterfeit cigarettes.

Thousands of illegal cigarettes and pouches of hand rolling tobacco were seized by Torfaen trading standards officers during a two-day operation with HM Revenues and Customs.

A number of the packets of cigarettes and pouches of tobacco were subsequently examined by tobacco companies and identified as being counterfeit - that is packaged in copied fake packaging to appear genuine, while also being found to contain dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals, bits of wood, sawdust and even rodent droppings.

The health warnings on the packs were not in English and did not have pictorial warnings, which is a legal requirement to sell in the UK.

As a consequence of the operation, which took place in September, a number of Torfaen traders appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court last week.

John Patrick Burns, age 50, of Elgam Avenue in Blaenavon - trading as JP Catering in Blaenavon - was fined £660, reduced to £440 for an early plea, for selling counterfeit and foreign labelled duty avoided cigarettes and tobacco.

Burns will also have to pay costs in the sum of £286.04, together with a £44 victim surcharge, making a total of £770.04.

Wayne Griffiths, age 58, of Park Street in Blaenavon - trading as Wayne’s Barbers of Pontypool - was fined £600, reduced to £400 for an early plea, for selling counterfeit and foreign labelled duty avoided cigarettes and tobacco.

Griffiths will also have to pay costs in the sum of £286.04, together with a £40 victim surcharge, making a total of £726.04.

Gillain Probert, age 68, of Salisbury Terrace in Varteg - trading as Albert Stores of Talywain - was fined £600, reduced to £400 for an early plea, for selling counterfeit and foreign labelled duty avoided cigarettes and tobacco.

Probert will also have to pay costs in the sum of £286.04, together with a £40 victim surcharge, making a total of £726.04.

The executive member for housing and planning and public protection, cllr Gwyneira Clark, said: "The sentence is a clear indication how seriously these offences are viewed by the court. The sale of counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime and genuine retailers in Torfaen will continue to be protected from unfair competition posed by individuals involved in these activities.

"People buying cheap cigarettes might think they are getting a great deal, but the truth is that they're not. If they knew what they might contain, the might think twice about buying them

"The council is committed to developing the local economy and will work to ensure all businesses can operate on a level playing field. It is a concern where traders are sourcing their illicit goods and we will continue to work towards identifying and stamping out these practices.”

Anybody with information on individuals selling counterfeit goods can contact the Torfaen trading standards service in confidence by ringing 01633 647624 or by emailing tradingstandards@torfaen.gov.uk