Plumstead: Shopkeeper Fined For Illegal Activity

by Our Staff in Woolwich

The manager of two Londis stores in Plumstead has been fined a total of £2,300 after he sold bottles of wines and spirits which had fake labels on them, or on which the excise duty had not been paid.

Thirulogachandran Nesan, who runs the stores in Lakedale Road and Plumstead High Street, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on September 11.

He pleaded guilty to offences of having smuggled goods on his premises, and selling alcohol that had fake labels on the bottles making them look like the UK duty had been paid.

A total of 25 bottles of spirits were identified from the shop floor shelves involving five different brands, and another 76 in the stockroom.

A second visit by the borough’s Trading Standards team, together with the police, led to the seizure of 57 bottles of Italian wine.

The court ordered that the alcohol involved in his guilty pleas should be forfeited. The court also ordered him to pay a surcharge of £120.

Cllr Jackie Smith, the council’s cabinet member for community safety and environment, (top)  said: “Selling illegal alcohol not only damages legitimate businesses, but potentially puts lives at risk as well. Anyone who has information about traders selling suspicious alcohol, or businesses who feel they may have been visited by an illegal supplier, are urged to contact the borough’s Trading Standards team on 0208921 8223.”