Two Wigan Borough business owners have been convicted after trading standards officers uncovered hundreds of illicit vapes and cigarette packs in separate investigations, including stock hidden in a vehicle and behind a mirror.
The cases involved Chaudhary Rahman, connected with shops on Railway Road in Leigh, and Bestun Mohammedi of Wallgate News in Wigan town centre. Both were dealt with at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court in May 2026 after Wigan Council Trading Standards brought enforcement action.
Officers said the seizures form part of wider work to tackle illegal goods being sold from high street premises and to protect residents from products that may not meet UK safety and labelling rules.
Illegal vapes found in a vehicle in Leigh
In December 2024, trading standards officers seized 358 illegal vapes from a vehicle linked to Chaudhary Rahman during a multi-agency day of action in Leigh.
According to the council, Mr Rahman, who owns several shops on Railway Road, was using the vehicle to store the products and avoid detection. The case was heard at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
Mr Rahman was ordered to pay a total of £3,065. That included a £1,500 fine, a £600 victim surcharge and £965 in costs.
The use of vehicles or off-site storage can make enforcement harder because illegal stock may not be kept openly on shop shelves. Trading standards teams often rely on intelligence, test purchasing, inspections and work with partner agencies to identify where products are being stored or supplied.
Cigarettes concealed behind a mirror at Wallgate News
In a separate investigation, officers seized 226 packs of illicit cigarettes from Wallgate News in Wigan town centre in May 2025.
The packs were found in a purpose-built concealment behind a mirror in a rear storeroom. Bestun Mohammedi was later convicted for his role in the offences at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on Friday, 15 May 2026.
Mr Mohammedi was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £1,686 in fines and associated costs.
Hidden compartments have appeared in a number of illicit tobacco and vape enforcement cases across England, with councils reporting that some shops use false walls, concealed panels or storage devices to keep illegal goods away from routine checks. Beehive readers can see a similar pattern in hidden tobacco wall enforcement in Liverpool and illegal tobacco action in Chester.
What this means locally
- Wigan Council Trading Standards seized 358 illegal vapes in Leigh and 226 packs of illicit cigarettes in Wigan town centre.
- The two cases resulted in financial penalties, costs and unpaid work after hearings on 14 and 15 May 2026.
- Officers said both cases showed attempts to conceal illegal stock from enforcement teams.
- Residents can report suspected sales of illegal tobacco or vapes confidentially.
For shoppers, the immediate concern is that illicit vapes and cigarettes can bypass UK rules on packaging, product content, age controls and consumer safety. Products sold outside the legal supply chain may also be cheaper than regulated goods, undercutting businesses that follow the law.
For legitimate retailers, enforcement is also a competition issue. Shops that sell compliant products face higher costs and stricter checks, while illegal sellers can gain an unfair advantage if they are not detected.
Reports from residents remain part of enforcement work
Councillor Kevin Anderson, portfolio holder for Police, Crime and Civil Contingencies, said the cases showed the lengths some business owners would go to in order to sell illicit products and avoid detection.
He said the council would continue to investigate and clamp down on those who do not follow local standards.
Wigan Council said its Trading Standards team works with partners through the borough’s Community Safety Partnership and acts on information from partner agencies and the public.
Anyone who wants to report shops selling illegal tobacco or vapes can contact Trading Standards in confidence by email at the published contact details or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Source: Wigan Council
Source check Source trail
This report is based on Wigan Council’s published account of the Trading Standards investigations and court outcomes.
- Matched the seizure figures for illegal vapes and illicit cigarette packs to the council r...
- Checked the named locations: Railway Road in Leigh and Wallgate News in Wigan town centre.
- Verified the court dates and penalties stated for Chaudhary Rahman and Bestun Mohammedi.
- Kept reporting contact details as provided by the council.
- Source
- Wigan Council
- Scope
- Wigan Borough
- Updated
- 2026-05-29 12:38
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