A shop owner was fined thousands of pounds after staff were caught trying to hide 51 packets of illegal tobacco by standing on them.

Officers at Brent and Harrow Trading Standards made a routine visit to D&D Ro Ltd, in Goldbeaters Grove, Edgware in September last year.

But they became suspicious when workers attempted to conceal the counterfeit stash and 51 packets of tobacco that did not carry the required English labels were uncovered.

Owner Lulian Duta, who had been cautioned previously for possessing illegal tobacco, said he didn’t know how the dodgy goods kept getting back into his shop.

Duta said he made regular checks but claimed his staff must have been sneaking the tobacco back into the shop.

He was fined £4,055 at Willesden Magistrates’ Court for not carrying out proper checks on the sale of tobacco, and ignoring warnings.

Cllr Graham Henson, portfolio holder for environment, crime and community safety, said: “Our trading standards officers aren’t fooled by smoke and mirrors.

“Illegal tobacco doesn’t just mysteriously appear and shop owners have a duty to carry out thorough checks to make sure it doesn’t sneak in. Hopefully Mr Dutta has finally learned his lesson.”

Duta was also fined in August 2016 for four offences regarding his trading practices.

In 2014 he was cautioned for possessing tobacco products that did not carry the correct health warning.