THREE people who were part of an illegal cigarette selling swindle in which they used a trap door in the stairs to transfer the stash have been prosecuted.

Oldham Council’s Trading Standards – assisted by Greater Manchester Police and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs – brought the trio to justice after officers seized 3,900 illegal cigarettes and 700g of hand rolling tobacco from an address above Hussain Superstore, in Ashton Road.

The three defendants were sentenced at Tameside Magistrates Court.

Mohammed Ali, aged 24, of Holborn Street, Rochdale, was given a 12 month Community Order with an unpaid work requirement of 150 hours.

Iram Shehzadi, aged 31, of Ashton Road, Oldham, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order, with an eight week curfew requirement and will be required to wear an electronic tag.

Both Ali and Shehzadi were charged £835 to pay towards prosecution costs.

Qaisar Hussain, aged 44, of Ashton Road, Oldham, was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order with an unpaid work requirement of 250 hours and was order to pay £1,360.

In February last year officers used statutory powers to break down the door at a property in Ashton Road, and seized illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco not intended for the UK market.

The tobacco was stored in the flat above Hussain Superstore and was passed down to the shop through a purpose made hole in the stairs.

All tobacco seized has been forfeited and destroyed.

Cabinet member for Environmental Services, Councillor Fida Hussain, said: “This operation is a great example of intelligence-led, co-ordinated enforcement action between partners.

“Our priority is to protect members of the public from those people who are using criminal means to fund their lifestyle. Everything our residents buy should be safe and legal products’’

“These sentences show that the courts are supporting our stance and that those not complying with the law will be brought to justice and action taken”.

Anyone with information regarding the sale of illegal tobacco can pass on information confidentially to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or at www.keep-it-out.co.uk/anonymous-reporting/.