A SNIFFER dog found more than 3,500 cigarettes sold without health warnings hidden in the counter of a food shop in Halliwell.

Farhad Babaker was fined £10,000 at court on Monday after his business, Roman Mini Market, was raided by Bolton Council Trading Standards on January 21 last year.

The council had received intelligence from the police, who accompanied them on the visit, along with a tobacco detection dog and handler from Wagtails.

The tobacco products being sold at Roman Mini Market did not have the required health warnings on them, making their supply illegal.

Dozens of packets of 20 cigarettes, from well-known manufacturers including Marlboro, Amber Leaf and Golden Virginia, were found as well as 1.5kg of loose tobacco.

The sniffer dog gave a strong indication to the counter.

A void between the front and back of the counter was found on closer inspection, and that the access to it was via a concealed door locked in place by a magnet.

Inside, trading standards officers found a shelf containing a rack holding packets of cigarettes, with other cigarettes and tobacco stored in the space behind.

Barbaker, aged 47, of Royston Mains Crescent, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to 19 charges at Bolton Magistrates' Court on February 16.

Of those allegations, 18 related to incorrect health warnings, while the other related to counterfeit Amber Leaf hand rolling tobacco.

He has since ended his involvement in the business, which has changed its name to Choman Mini Market, but is still operating in the same location.

A council spokesman said: "The supply and demand of illegal tobacco is an issue that we are committed to tackling.

"We are pleased that our work with GMP and the Trading Standards North West Illicit Tobacco Team has resulted in this prosecution as its low price and easy availability can encourage people to keep smoking, and children and young people are often targeted by unscrupulous traders.”

Barbaker was fined £500 for each of the 18 health warnings charges, and £1,000 for the Trade Marks Act offence. He also had to pay £820 in costs, and a £120 victim surcharge.