A Bognor Regis shop owner has been ordered to pay £105,000 after being sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court for repeatedly selling counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes.
On 16 January 2026, Barzan Aubid, director of Baltic Bognor Ltd, Richmond Road, Bognor Regis received a 10-month suspended sentence, 65 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £5,000 in costs after pleading guilty to trademarks, tobacco labelling and money laundering offences. His company received a £14,000 fine and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The court also concluded that Aubid had a criminal lifestyle and that he had personally benefitted from his criminal conduct to the sum of £70,421.84 and Baltic Bognor Ltd had benefitted £14,093.69. Confiscation Orders have been made for these sums and Aubid has three months to pay under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
West Sussex Trading Standards officers have carried out repeated inspections at the premises since 2017, uncovering counterfeit cigarettes, illegal vapes exceeding legal nicotine limits and other non-compliant products. On one occasion officers found cigarettes hidden inside orange juice cartons within the stock room.
As a result of these sustained breaches and ongoing Trading Standards investigations, Aubid’s alcohol licence was revoked in 2022. His appeal was dismissed by Worthing Magistrates’ Court in January 2024.
This latest prosecution was brought by West Sussex Trading Standards, supported by West Sussex County Council Public Health and Arun District Council, as part of wider efforts to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco.
Cllr Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “Illegal tobacco is a serious concern to public health, and taking steps to eradicate it from the county forms an important element of Our Council Plan and our priority to keep people safe.
“Counterfeit cigarettes can contain a wide range of hazardous substances and we would discourage anybody from buying any seemingly bargain-priced cheap tobacco.”
This case also demonstrates that our Trading Standards Team of Accredited Financial Investigators will ensure action is taken to recover any benefit from this type of criminal conduct.”
Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity related to the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes directly to Trading Standards via: www.westsussex.gov.uk/TSreport
While illicit tobacco is especially hazardous, it’s important to be clear that all tobacco products are harmful to public health. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death, responsible for serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic respiratory conditions.
Residents can access free specialist support, including nicotine replacement products, by searching ‘Smokefree West Sussex’ or calling 0330 222 7980.
