Illegal vapes capable of delivering up to 15,000 puffs were found hidden in confectionery boxes at a Skipton shop, a court has heard.
Trading standards officers discovered the products at the Lewiatan store on Sackville Street following complaints from the public.
Lewiatan Ltd and two of its directors have now been fined after appearing at York Magistrates' Court yesterday (Wednesday).
North Yorkshire Council had already revoked the store's alcohol licence in March following concerns raised by trading standards and North Yorkshire Police.
The investigation began in March 2024, when officers found 61 vapes containing more than the permitted two millilitres of nicotine-containing liquid and 77 which breached labelling requirements.
Some were advertised as providing up to 15,000 puffs, compared with an average of around 600 for a legal vape.
Officers also discovered counterfeit tobacco and other products which breached packaging and labelling rules.
Further visits in September and October 2025 resulted in hundreds more illegal vapes and tobacco products being seized.
Former director Shahram Sharifi, 37, pleaded guilty to offences relating to counterfeit tobacco, packaging and illegal vapes. He was fined £461 and ordered to pay a £184 surcharge and £1,500 prosecution costs.
Director Araf Fathi, 33, pleaded guilty to trademark and tobacco packaging breaches and possessing illegal vapes for sale. He was fined £384, with a £154 surcharge and £500 towards prosecution costs.
Lewiatan Ltd pleaded guilty to all offences and was fined £5,000, with a £2,000 surcharge and £1,000 towards prosecution costs.
Cllr Richard Foster, North Yorkshire Council's executive member whose responsibilities include trading standards, said:
“This shop has shown a blatant disregard for the law, putting profit ahead of public safety.
“Selling illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco poses serious risks to people’s health, particularly to young people, and helps fund organised criminal activity.”
North Yorkshire Police Inspector Paul Crabtree, of the Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, 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.”
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