(Image: North Yorkshire Council)
Illegal vapes have been found hidden in sweet boxes in a shop in North Yorkshire containing enough nicotine liquid for 15,000 puffs.
Trading standards officers uncovered the concealed products at Lewiatan on Sackville Street in Skipton.
Some of the vapes were advertised as containing enough nicotine liquid for 15,000 puffs. In legal vapes, the average is 600 puffs.
Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing the environment at North Yorkshire Council, 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."
The shop’s alcohol licence was revoked in March 2026 by North Yorkshire Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee after trading standards officers and North Yorkshire Police raised concerns about crime, public safety, and the protection of children.
Lewiatan Ltd and two of its directors appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on August 19 to face multiple charges relating to illegal vapes and counterfeit cigarettes.
A general view of the inside of the Lewiatan store in Skipton. Both the company which runs the shop, Lewiatan Ltd, and two of its directors faced numerous charges at York Magistrates’ Court.
(Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE)
Shahram Sharifi, 37, of Western Road, Skipton, served as a director at Lewiatan from November 2018 until June 14, 2024.
Officers discovered 61 vapes containing more than two millilitres of nicotine liquid, 77 non-compliant vapes, six packets of counterfeit tobacco, 14 packets breaching labelling rules, and 11 tobacco products in improper packaging.
The vapes were found hidden on the shop floor inside confectionery boxes, while the tobacco was stored at the rear of the premises.
After Araf Fathi, 33, of Greatwood Avenue, Skipton, became director on June 14, 2024, further complaints led to another investigation.
Officers issued a warning and returned in September 2025, seizing more illicit products.
In October, North Yorkshire Police joined trading standards for a follow-up visit, removing further items.
Lewiatan Ltd and Fathi were 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.
They also faced charges relating to labelling, packaging and trademark offences for possessing counterfeit tobacco products for sale.
Sharifi, who now works 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.
He was fined £461 and ordered to pay a £184 victim surcharge and £1,500 in prosecution costs.
Fathi who has relocated 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 victim surcharge and £500 in costs.
Lewiatan Ltd admitted all charges and was fined £5,000 with a £2,000 surcharge and £1,000 in prosecution costs.
Cllr Derek Bastiman, chair of the statutory licensing committee, 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."
Inspector Paul Crabtree of North Yorkshire Police’s Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team said removing illegal vapes was a shared priority in the Skipton area.
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Insp Crabtree 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 are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline.