Ipswich store owner Sabah Mamand fined after Suffolk Trading Standards raid Cardinal Convenience Store and thousands in vapes seized

An Ipswich store owner who was caught in possession of illegal vapes three times has been fined – with thousands of pounds worth of products set to be destroyed.

Sabah Mamand, sole director of Kaka Baran Ltd, appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 18, having pleaded guilty to selling an illegal e-cigarette and possession for supplying 867 illegal e-cigarettes.

In January, Suffolk Trading Standards raided Mamand’s shop, Cardinal Convenience Store, in Franciscan Way, after he sold an illegal vape to an undercover inspector.

The vape contained 6.4ml of fluid – more than three times the legal 2ml capacity for disposable vapes.

Officers searched the store and seized 867 illegal vapes worth more than £8,000.

Mamand, of Hogarth Road, Ipswich, entered his plea both as director and as a representative of the company.

His store was previously raided in February 2023.

In an interview, he claimed the vapes seized were stock that was not found during the previous operation. However, he failed to provide evidence to prove this, the court heard.

Mamand was fined £230 and ordered to pay costs of £392.

The court also ordered the vapes be disposed of.

Following Mamand’s sentencing, Graham Crisp, head of Suffolk Trading Standards, said cases like this highlighted the need for shopkeepers to comply with rules when stocking and selling vapes.

Mr Crisp said: “Kaka Baran Ltd were found with non-compliant vapes on two occasions before this seizure in January 2024.

“Despite receiving guidance following these seizures, Mamand admitted in interview that he knew these vapes were non-compliant but still decided to sell them.

“He has now lost stock worth thousands of pounds and received a criminal conviction for ignoring those rules.”

Cllr Steve Wiles, from Suffolk County Council, congratulated Trading Standards for its hard work in getting the vapes off the street.

He admitted that, while vapes can be important in stopping people smoking, oversized ones were still illegal.

Cllr Wiles added: “Businesses must ensure that any vapes they sell comply with the rules designed to protect consumers, and this case sends a clear message that they will be brought before the courts if they fail to do so.”

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