A judge has found the owner of a shop in Dagenham guilty after she was caught selling illegal cigarettes on several occasions.

Trading Standards Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council visited T/A Magazin Romanesc on Station Road, Dagenham a number of times between December 2022 and September 2023 and each time found illegal cigarettes on the premises.

Cigarettes were mainly kept in the stockroom and in one instance they were hidden in a bag of flour.

In total, officers seized 264 packets of multiple brands worth a total of £3,168.

The owner of the shop, Mrs Claudia-Camelia Cocora of 133 Millhaven Close, Romford tried to argue that she and her son smoke 2 to 3 packets a day bought on Facebook Messenger.

Mrs Cocora ignored warnings from officers not to store such products on the premises and was summoned to court on Thursday 11 January.

The case was heard at Romford Magistrates Court, and she was found guilty.

Mrs Cocora was ordered to pay a fine of £1,600, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £5,000 and a victim surcharge of £640, totalling £7,240. The company was also fined a further £400 and £40 in legal costs.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Illegal cigarettes are bad for a reason and this person was warned several times not to stock them.

“Their ignorance and poor excuse have now resulted in them being fined a hefty sum. We will continue to monitor them and take further action if need be.”

If residents are aware of a business selling illegal products, they can report them to the council by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.