Hillingdon Traders Fined for Selling Vapes to Under-18s

In a recent development, FOUR shopkeepers and two businesses in Hillingdon have been ordered to pay over £5,500 in fines for selling vapes to children. This outcome stems from successful prosecutions by Hillingdon Council’s trading standards team.

Legal Proceedings

The hearings took place at Ealing Magistrates’ Court following a test purchasing operation conducted in January. During this operation, vapes were sold to young volunteers who were under the age of 18. The consequences were severe for those involved in the illegal sale of these age-restricted products.

Abdul Baratali and Ahmad Kazeemi, who operate Yiewsley Food Centre in West Drayton, were both fined £250, along with costs of £500 each and victim surcharges of £100 each. Similarly, Krushil Patel from Yeading Convenience Store in Hayes faced a fine of £250, costs of £500, and a victim surcharge of £100. The company running Yeading Convenience Store was also penalised with the same amounts.

Individual and Company Penalties

Siddharth Bhatt from H T Food and Wine in Ruislip received a fine of £150, costs of £300, and a victim surcharge of £60. Additionally, A S Patel Food & Wine Ltd, the company managing the store, had previously been fined £440, incurred costs of £1,000, and faced a victim surcharge of £176 in a separate hearing.

Community Response

Cllr Eddie Lavery, the Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, expressed the council’s commitment to maintaining Hillingdon as a safe borough where communities can prosper. He commended the efforts of the trading standards team in safeguarding residents from potential harm.

Should you suspect any business of selling age-restricted products to individuals under 18, you are encouraged to report it by emailing tradingstandards@hillingdon.gov.uk or calling 01895 250164 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Let us all work together to uphold the law and protect our youth from harmful substances.