Two men have been accused of trying to sell more than 12,000 illegal cigarettes from a north-east shop.
Karzam Bakir, 35, and Haider Ali, 40, are both facing five charges in relation to the illicit sale of tobacco products at Nina’s shop in Fraserburgh’s Broad Street.
The pair are charged with causing loss to cigarette giant Imperial Tobacco Ltd by having a pouch of tobacco falsely packaged as Golden Virginia.
They are also charged with causing loss to Philip Morris International Management by having 5,799 cigarettes falsely packed as Marlboro.
It is alleged that Bakir and Ali had 12,529 cigarettes which did not carry the required health warnings, and that they gave the impression these cigarettes could be sold legally. All four of these charges relate to an inspection on March 24 this year.
Finally, the two men are facing a charge of running an unregistered tobacco business from Nina’s shop on March 26.
Neither Bakir or Ali were present at Peterhead Sheriff Court for yesterday’s hearing.
Speaking on behalf of Bakir, whose address was given as 21 Denmark Street in Fraserburgh, solicitor Marianne Milligan entered a plea of not guilty to each of the five charges. A trial date has been set for February.
Ali, of 67 Broad Street in Fraserburgh, entered no plea and will reappear at Peterhead Sheriff Court next month.