Two members of staff from Fratton Food Store in Portsmouth have been convicted for their roles in supplying counterfeit and smuggled tobacco products.

Following the previous sentencing, Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards carried out a financial investigation into the two store owners, Mr. Salar Karim Karam and Mr. Ali Kader Ismi to find out how much financial gain had been made from the illegal activities, leading to final conviction.

On Wednesday 11 June 2025, at Portsmouth Crown Court, Mr Salar Karim Karam was handed a Proceeds of Crime Act ‘Confiscation Order’ totalling £27,260.20 for contributing to the supply of over 45,000 counterfeit cigarettes from Fratton Food Store in Portsmouth. Karam has 3 months to pay this order or face 12 months in prison. Portsmouth City Council’s Trading Standards service brought this action and were subsequently awarded £5,248.28 in costs. The financial enquiries into Mr Ali Kader Ismil are ongoing.

Cllr Lee Hunt, Portsmouth City Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure, and Sport, said:  “Portsmouth City Council will use the full weight of the law to pursue criminal trading. We have a highly motivated and skilled Trading Standards team constantly investigating premises and individuals who break the law; we will catch them just as we have been able to bring these individuals to justice.  Those selling counterfeit items and tobacco products will be caught and risk severe penalties.

The Council’s trading standards team helps to protect residents from unscrupulous traders and ensure that businesses comply with the law. The team works with trained tobacco detection dogs to sniff out illegal tobacco at premises across the city, often based on information provided by members of the public or other businesses.

If you know or suspect businesses in Portsmouth are supplying illicit tobacco, you can report it at trading.standards@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. For more information search ‘trading standards’ at portsmouth.gov.uk

The Council’s wellbeing service provides free support to help Portsmouth residents to stop smoking. Visit www.wellbeingportsmouth.co.uk or call 023 9229 4001 to find out more.