Cardiff Store Hit With £20,000 Fine For Selling Illegal Vapes 2026

Key Points

• Aydin Ltd, trading as Mini Mart Store on Countisbury Avenue in Llanrumney, Cardiff, has been fined more than £20,000 for selling illegal vapes and tobacco.
• The company and its director, Rostam Ahmed, pleaded guilty to 16 offences relating to the sale of prohibited products.
• Investigations by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) found vapes with tank sizes above legal limits and counterfeit or incorrectly labelled tobacco.
• At Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 3 July 2026, the company was fined £16,000, ordered to pay £4,600 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
• Rostam Ahmed received a 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation activity, plus a £500 fine, £100 costs and £114 victim surcharge.
• All seized products were forfeited by the court and will be destroyed.
• The mini mart had previously been given a closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 due to the scale and seriousness of the offending.
• Cllr Ed Stubbs, Cardiff council cabinet member for SRS, said illegal tobacco and vape sales harm residents’ health and damage the wider economy.
• Trading Standards warned that robust action will be taken against businesses that continually flout the law.
• The sentencing reflects the seriousness of the illegal activity and aims to deter other retailers from similar conduct.

Cardiff (Wales Times) July 08, 2026 – In Llanrumney, Aydin Ltd, operating as Mini Mart Store on Countisbury Avenue, has been ordered to pay more than £20,000 after being found repeatedly selling illegal vapes and tobacco products. The company and its director, Rostam Ahmed, pleaded guilty to 16 offences relating to the sale of those prohibited items, following a series of investigations carried out by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), as reported by the Wales Times.

At a sentencing hearing at uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 3 July 2026, the court imposed a £16,000 fine on the company, along with £4,600 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. The director received a 12-month community order, including 10 days of rehabilitation activity, in addition to a £500 fine, £100 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge, according to the court details published by the Wales Times. All seized products were forfeited by the court and are now set to be destroyed.

What Did Investigations By Shared Regulatory Services Find At The Store?

Investigations by Shared Regulatory Services revealed that the store was selling vapes with tank sizes above legal limits, in addition to counterfeit and incorrectly labelled tobacco products. As reported by the Wales Times, the scale and seriousness of the offending had previously led the mini mart to be made subject to a closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The closure order is a significant legal measure that allows authorities to close premises where there is evidence of persistent illegal activity linked to antisocial behaviour. In this case, it indicated that the illegal sale of vapes and tobacco was not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of misconduct, as explained by the Wales Times in its coverage of the case.

Why Are Illegal Vapes And Tobacco Considered A Serious Problem In Cardiff?

Cllr Ed Stubbs, cabinet member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services in Cardiff, said:

“The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes is of great concern. It impacts the health of residents in Cardiff and damages the wider economy.”

He continued,

“Legitimate businesses are affected as customers buy illegal products instead, and the availability of these products removes incentives for people to quit smoking.”

These statements, as quoted by the Wales Times, highlight two main concerns: public health and economic fairness. Illegal vapes and tobacco often bypass safety standards and age restrictions, potentially exposing users, including young people, to unregulated products. Meanwhile, legitimate retailers lose sales when customers turn to cheaper, illegal alternatives, undermining lawful businesses and reducing tax revenue, according to Cllr Stubbs’ comments.

How Did The Court Respond To The 16 Offences Committed By Aydin Ltd And Its Director?

At Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, the judge took into account the number and seriousness of the offences when determining the penalties. The company was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £4,600 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. Its director, Rostam Ahmed, received a 12-month community order, including 10 days of rehabilitation activity, in addition to a £500 fine, £100 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge, as detailed by the Wales Times.

The court also forfeited all seized products, which are now set to be destroyed. This ensures that the illegal vapes and tobacco will not return to the market, reinforcing the deterrent effect of the sentence, according to the reporting by the Wales Times.

What Was The Role Of Trading Standards And Shared Regulatory Services In This Case?

Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), which includes Trading Standards officers, carried out a series of investigations into the Mini Mart Store. These investigations uncovered the repeated sale of illegal vapes and tobacco products, leading to the 16 offences charged against Aydin Ltd and Rostam Ahmed. As reported by the Wales Times, SRS has been working to enforce regulations on tobacco and vape sales across Cardiff.

Cllr Ed Stubbs emphasised that

“Robust action will be taken by Trading Standards against businesses that continually flout the law, and it is encouraging to see that the court’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of this illegal activity.”

His comments, as quoted by the Wales Times, signal that similar cases will be pursued aggressively in the future.

How Has The Media Covered The Case And What Has Been Reported?

The case has been covered by the Wales Times, which reported on the guilty pleas, the court’s sentencing, and the statements by Cllr Ed Stubbs. The newspaper highlighted the financial penalties imposed on both the company and its director, as well as the closure order previously issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

As reported by the Wales Times, the coverage focused on the legal consequences for Aydin Ltd and Rostam Ahmed, the nature of the illegal products, and the broader implications for public health and local businesses. The article attributed key statements to Cllr Stubbs and provided precise figures for fines, costs, and surcharges.

Background: The Development Of Illegal Vape And Tobacco Enforcement In Cardiff

This case reflects a growing focus by Cardiff council and Shared Regulatory Services on illegal vape and tobacco sales. The use of a closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 shows that authorities are treating persistent illegal retail activity as a form of antisocial behaviour linked to wider community harm.

The enforcement actions, including investigations, court proceedings, and significant financial penalties, demonstrate a shift towards more stringent penalties for businesses that repeatedly sell prohibited products. The involvement of Trading Standards and the public comments by Cllr Ed Stubbs indicate that this is part of a coordinated strategy to protect residents’ health and support legitimate retailers.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Cardiff Retailers, Parents And Young People

For legitimate retailers in Cardiff, this case is likely to act as a strong deterrent. Businesses that sell vapes and tobacco will be more cautious about complying with legal limits on tank sizes, labelling requirements, and age restrictions, knowing that repeated offences can lead to closure orders, heavy fines, and personal penalties for directors.

For parents and young people, the message is that illegal vape and tobacco products are being actively targeted and removed from the market. The destruction of seized products and the community order for the director suggest that authorities are prepared to impose non-financial penalties as well. This could reduce the availability of unregulated products, potentially lowering the risk of young people accessing dangerous or heavily nicotine-containing vapes.