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A former Portsmouth shop owner convicted of supplying counterfeit tobacco has been ordered to pay over £27,000 following a financial investigation by Trading Standards.
Salar Karim Karam, a previous owner of Fratton Food Store, was sentenced last year for his role in distributing more than 45,000 illegal and counterfeit cigarettes from the store.
At Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, Mr Karam was handed a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) confiscation order totalling £27,260.20. He has been given three months to pay the amount or face 12 months’ imprisonment.
The confiscation follows a detailed investigation into his financial gains from the illicit trade. As part of the ruling, Portsmouth City Council’s Trading Standards service — which led the prosecution — was also awarded £5,248.28 in legal costs.
Financial enquiries into Ali Kader Ismil, another former owner of the shop, are still ongoing.
A Portsmouth City Council spokesperson said:
This result highlights our commitment to pursuing those who profit from criminal activity. Illegal tobacco harms public health, undermines legitimate businesses, and often funds wider organised crime.”
If you suspect the sale of illegal tobacco in your area, you can report it anonymously to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
