Shop owner in West Sussex convicted for illegal sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes, caught with 198 illicit e-cigarettes

Sep.28

Shop owner in Worthing, West Sussex convicted for illegal tobacco and e-cigarette sales, will be sentenced next month.

Key points：

·The owner of a store in Worthing, West Sussex, England, has been convicted for illegally selling tobacco and e-cigarettes.

·A total of 198 illegal e-cigarettes were found in the store.

·The store owner, Sarhad Kamal Mahmoudi, will be sentenced next month.

2Firsts, on September 28, 2025, a store owner in Worthing, West Sussex, England, named Sarhad Kamal Mahmoudi, was found guilty of selling illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes. He will be sentenced next month. This case was uncovered by the Trading Standards department of West Sussex County Council, as reported by the Sussex Express on September 26.

A spokesperson for the county council stated that on September 22, 2023, a secret test purchase was conducted at a store in Woxin, during which law enforcement officers purchased foreign cigarettes. Further investigation on October 18, 2023, with the assistance of police, immigration officers, and sniffer dogs, revealed illegal tobacco hidden in the kitchen.

An investigation has found that out of 88 tobacco products, there are varieties with counterfeit, duty-free, or foreign labels. In addition, 198 e-cigarettes that do not comply with the 2015 Tobacco and Related Products Regulations were also discovered. These e-cigarettes were not hidden, but openly displayed for sale in stores.

The police also seized a nitrous oxide tank from Mahmoud's car during their investigation, this substance is commonly known as laughing gas. The West Sussex County Council pointed out that Mahmoud, who has been operating as a shop owner since October 2023, was convicted by the Brighton Magistrates' Court on September 22, 2025 for charges related to illegal sales of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and tax evasion.

According to reports, Sarhad Trading Ltd, owned by the suspect, is facing a total of 23 charges, but the company has since been dissolved. Duncan Crow, a member of the Community Support, Fire, and Rescue Cabinet, commended the efforts of trading standards officers in clearing unsafe tobacco and e-cigarette products from the streets, emphasizing the importance of enforcement actions in ensuring the safety of residents and holding individuals and businesses accountable for illegal activities.

References:

[1] Supermarket director found guilty of selling illicit tobacco and vapes in Worthing

Also Read:

[1] London police crackdown on drug-laced e-cigarettes: Over 2,000 poisoning charges expected in 2024-2025

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Geek Bar Launches New Pulse Models in the U.S.: Thermochromic Design, Core Specs Intact

U.S. vape retailer VapeSourcing has listed GEEKBAR Pulse 15K/25K Thermal Edition products, currently marked “Coming Soon.” Both models retain the core Pulse-series configuration but adopt a thermochromic, color-changing shell; the Pulse 15K is flagged as GEEKBAR’s first device to use this finish.

Nov.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Czech Republic to Tighten E-Cigarette Rules in December, Ban Candy Flavours and Cannabinoids

Czech Republic will tighten regulations on the sale and labelling of e-cigarettes from December. Manufacturers will have seven months to sell existing stock, after which candy-flavoured or cannabinoid-containing e-cigarettes will be banned. A survey by the National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) found that nearly 14% of the population used e-cigarettes in 2024 — almost triple the rate five years earlier.

Nov.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Philip Morris International Restructures to Drive Its Smoke-Free Transformation

Philip Morris International (PMI) announced a new organizational model effective January 1, 2026, creating two main business units — PMI International and PMI U.S. — to accelerate its smoke-free strategy. The restructuring replaces four regional segments with three: International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles, and U.S., enhancing agility, governance, and long-term growth in reduced-risk products.

Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Feature | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock

As Russia’s federal vape policy stalls, regional governors are racing to implement local bans—now with the backing of President Vladimir Putin. The divide between swift local action and delayed national legislation is fueling debate over health, regulation, and the country’s broader approach to nicotine control.