Ex-Portsmouth Shop Owner Slapped with £27k Fine for Peddling Fake Cigarettes
A former Portsmouth shopkeeper has been hit with a hefty bill after getting caught selling counterfeit cigarettes. Salar Karim Karam, once owner of Fratton Food Store, must stump up over £27,000 following a thorough investigation by Trading Standards.
Sentenced for Slipping 45,000 Illegal Ciggies
Last year, Karam was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court for pushing more than 45,000 fake and dodgy cigarettes through his shop. On 11 June 2025, the court slapped him with a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) confiscation order demanding he coughs up £27,260.20.
Karam has just three months to pay or he’ll be facing 12 months behind bars. The order also demands payment of legal costs amounting to £5,248.28 to Portsmouth City Council’s Trading Standards, who spearheaded the prosecution.
Further Investigations Ongoing
Financial probes continue into Ali Kader Ismil, another former owner of Fratton Food Store. Trading Standards remain tight-lipped as they pursue all involved in the illicit tobacco racket.
Council Vows To Crack Down on Illicit Trade
“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,” said a Portsmouth City Council spokesperson.
Spot Illegal Tobacco? Report It Now
Suspect illegal cigarette sales in your area? Report anonymously to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 and help crack down on the counterfeit cigarette trade.
