Illegal vapes were found hidden in confectionary boxes in a shop investigated by trading standards officers in North Yorkshire.
Some of the vapes recovered from the Lewiatan store on Sackville Street in Skipton were advertised as having enough nicotine containing liquid for 15,000 puffs. In legal vapes, the average is 600 puffs.
Members of our statutory licensing sub-committee revoked the shop’s alcohol licence in March 2026 after trading standards officers and North Yorkshire Police raised concerns about crime, public safety, and the protection of children.
Both the company which runs the shop, Lewiatan Ltd, and two of its directors faced numerous charges at York Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, 19 August) involving vapes and counterfeit cigarettes.
This latest action was praised by executive member for managing our environment, Cllr Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards.
He said: “This shop has shown a blatant disregard for the law, putting profit ahead of public safety. I want to commend the trading standards officers and partner agencies who have worked hard to bring this case before the courts.
“Selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco poses serious risks to people’s health, particularly to young people, and helps fund organised criminal activity. We will continue to take firm action against businesses that break the law and threaten the safety of our communities.”
Shahram Sharifi, 37, who at the time was living in Western Road, Skipton, was a director at Lewiatan from November 2018 until 14 June, 2024.
In March 2024, acting on complaints from the public, trading standards officers found 61 vapes containing more than two millilitres of nicotine containing liquid and 77 vapes which did not comply with labelling requirements.
They also discovered six packets of counterfeit tobacco, 14 packets of tobacco that breached labelling requirements and 11 tobacco products which breached packaging rules.
The vapes were found in confectionary boxes on the shop floor, while the tobacco was found in the rear of the store.
After Araf Fathi, 33, who at the time was living at Greatwood Avenue, Skipton, was appointed as director on 14 June, 2024, the trading standards service continued to receive complaints.
A warning was issued to the store and in September 2025 officers visited the premises again and this time seized vapes and tobacco. In October, members of the trading standards team were accompanied by officers from North Yorkshire Police and removed further items.
Fathi and Lewiatan Ltd were subsequently charged with possession to supply 553 vapes containing more than two millilitres of nicotine containing liquid and 777 vapes which did not comply with labelling and dosage instructions.
Other offences included labelling, packaging and trademark offences for possessing counterfeit tobacco products for sale.
Sharifi, who is now working in a shop in Manchester, pleaded guilty to offences relating to counterfeit tobacco products, standardised packaging of tobacco and vapes containing more than two millilitres of nicotine-containing liquid. Sharifi was ordered to pay a fine of £461, a £184 surcharge and £1,500 prosecution costs.
Fathi, who has moved to St Helens, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to trademark and tobacco packaging breaches and possessing for sale vapes containing more than two millilitres of nicotine-containing liquid. He was fined £384 and ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £500 towards prosecution costs.
Lewiatan Ltd pleaded guilty to all offences and was fined £5,000, ordered to pay a surcharge of £2,000 and £1,000 towards prosecution costs.
The chair of our statutory licensing committee, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said he hoped the sentences would serve as a warning to other businesses operating illegally.
He said: “Businesses that sell illegal vapes or counterfeit tobacco, particularly when concealing them in a way that makes them attractive or accessible to children, can expect robust action to be taken against them.
“I hope this case sends a clear message that those who break the law and put public safety at risk will be held to account.”
North Yorkshire Police’s Inspector Paul Crabtree, of the Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, said taking illegal vapes off the street was a priority for community partners in the Skipton area.
He said: “We have first-hand experience of them ending up in the hands of children, with some even requiring hospital treatment.
“Together with North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards team, we will continue to do all we can to keep people safe from illegal vapes and tobacco.”
Members of the public can report suspicious activity to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 2231133.