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A Torfaen pensioner has been fined more than £200 and had £2000 confiscated after pleading guilty to selling illegal cigarettes at pubs around Cwmbran.
Brian Davies, 74, of Manorbier Drive, Llanyravon admitted selling illegal tobacco and cigarettes in a number of pubs in the Cwmbran area. He was prosecuted following an investigation was by the joint Trading Standards Services of Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Council following an anonymous tip off.
A warrant was secured for Mr Davies’s property where 2698 packets of 20 cigarettes and 1755 50g pouches of tobacco with an approximate retail value of £56,000 were seized during the operation. A quantity of cash was also discovered at the property which led to a financial investigation being carried out under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
On Monday 30 July 2018, at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, Davies pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and, after considering his personal circumstances and early plea, was fined £216 and ordered to pay costs of £120 and a victim surcharge of £30. The magistrates also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the cigarettes and tobacco. HMRC have also provided evidence to show that this seizure evaded duty and VAT of nearly £45,000. Also, a sum of £2000 was confiscated as part of the financial examination which concluded in January 2019.
Councillor Fiona Cross, executive member for the environment said: “The sale of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco is not a victimless crime. It affects genuine retailers in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent who are being undercut by illegal, cheap and potentially unsafe products. Sellers of these products are seeking to avoid legal controls on their production standards, and may attempt to ignore laws governing how they are sold, such as the prohibition on sales to children.
“Counterfeit tobacco is particularly dangerous because it’s often made in filthy conditions, this is why the council is committed to developing the local economy and we will work to ensure all businesses operate on a level playing field.
“Our trading standards team work extremely hard to protect residents and tackle the sale and supply of fake goods. If you are caught selling them you risk fines, imprisonment, and having your financial affairs investigated, so I hope this is a warning to anyone thinking of making some quick cash by selling these items.”
“We would encourage those who find cigarettes and tobacco too expensive to seek assistance from the smoking cessation services and quit rather than turn to the illicit market. Contact Help Me Quit Wales on freephone 0808 250 6885.”
Anybody with information about individuals selling counterfeit goods can contact the joint Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Trading Standards team on 01633 647623 or e-mail trading.standards@torfaen.gov.uk
Mae pensiynwr o Dorfaen wedi derbyn dirwy o dros £200 a chymerwyd ymaith £2,000 ar ôl iddo bledio'n euog i werthu sigaréts anghyfreithlon mewn tafarndai yn ardal Cwmbrân.
Cyfaddefodd Brian Davies, 74, o Maenorbier Drive, Llanyrafon ei fod yn gwerthu tybaco a sigaréts yn anghyfreithlon mewn nifer o dafarndai yn ardal Cwmbrân. Cafodd ei erlyn yn dilyn ymchwiliad gan Wasanaethau Safonau Masnach Cynghorau Torfaen a Blaenau Gwent yn dilyn rhybudd anhysbys.
Cafwyd gwarant ar gyfer eiddo Mr Davies lle cafodd 2698 o becynnau o 20 sigarét a 1755 o gydau tybaco 50g gwerth tua £56,000 eu cymryd ymaith yn ystod yr ymgyrch. Darganfuwyd swm o arian yn yr eiddo hefyd a arweiniodd at ymchwiliad ariannol o dan y Ddeddf Enillion Troseddau.
Ddydd Llun 30 Gorffennaf 2018, yn Llys Ynadon Cwmbrân, plediodd Davies yn euog i droseddau o dan Ddeddf Nodau Masnach 1994 ac, ar ôl ystyried ei amgylchiadau personol a'i bled cynnar, cafodd ddirwy o £216 a'i orchymyn i dalu costau o £120 a gordal dioddefwr o £30. Gorchmynnodd yr ynadon hefyd nod y sigaréts a'r tybaco yn cael eu fforffedu a'u dinistrio. Mae CThEM hefyd wedi cyflwyno tystiolaeth i ddangos bod yr atafaeliad hwn yn osgoi dyletswydd a TAW o bron i £45,000. Hefyd, cafodd swm o £2000 ei gymryd ymaith fel rhan o'r archwiliad ariannol a ddaeth i ben ym mis Ionawr 2019.
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Fiona Cross, aelod gweithredol dros yr amgylchedd: "Mae yna bobl sy'n dioddef yn sgil gwerthu sigaréts a thybaco ffug. Mae'n effeithio ar fanwerthwyr dilys yn Nhorfaen a Blaenau Gwent pan fydd cynnyrch anghyfreithlon, rhad a allai fod yn anniogel yn cael eu gwerthu. Mae pobl sy'n gwerthu'r cynhyrchion hyn yn ceisio osgoi rheolaethau cyfreithiol yn eu safonau cynhyrchu, ac o bosib maent yn ceisio anwybyddu cyfreithiau sy'n rheoli sut y maent yn cael eu gwerthu, fel gwaharddiad ar werthu i blant.
“Mae tybaco ffug yn arbennig o beryglus oherwydd ei fod yn aml yn cael ei wneud mewn amodau budr ofnadwy, dyma pam mae'r cyngor wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu'r economi leol a byddwn yn gweithio i sicrhau bod pob busnes yn gweithredu ar lefel wastad.
“Mae ein tîm safonau masnach yn gweithio'n ddyfal iawn i amddiffyn trigolion a mynd i'r afael â gwerthu a chyflenwi nwyddau ffug. Os cewch eich dal yn eu gwerthu, rydych chi'n wynebu'r perygl o dderbyn dirwy, carchar, a'r posibilrwydd o ymchwilio i'ch materion ariannol, felly rwy'n gobeithio bod hyn yn rhybudd i unrhyw un sy'n ystyried gwneud arian yn gyflym trwy werthu'r eitemau hyn.”
"Fe fyddem yn annog y rhai sy'n ystyried bod prynu sigaréts a thybaco yn rhy ddrud i ofyn am gymorth gan y gwasanaethau rhoi'r gorau i ysmygu a rhoi'r gorau i smygu yn hytrach na throi at y farchnad anghyfreithlon. Cysylltwch â Helpu Fi i Stopio Cymru ar radffôn 0808 250 6885."
Gall unrhyw un sydd â gwybodaeth am unigolion sy'n gwerthu nwyddau ffug gysylltu â thîm Safonau Masnach Blaenau Gwent a Thorfaen ar 01633 647623 neu e-bostio trading.standards@torfaen.gov.uk
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