A 28-year-old man from Southall who supplied Swansea shops with thousands of illegal vapes has been handed a suspended prison sentence following a major investigation by trading standards in 2024.
Amandeep Kukraja, director of Norwood Trading Ltd and owner of Buddha Vapes, appeared at Swansea crown court where he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to repay more than £300,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The case followed a lengthy probe by Swansea council’s trading standards team. An initial seizure of illegal vapes at a local shop led officers to a storage facility in Southall. Working alongside the Metropolitan police, officers uncovered almost 120,000 illegal vapes at the site as part of “Operation Thor”.
It is thought Kukraja was supplying shops across the UK, with Swansea one of many cities receiving the products.
David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate service and performance, said: “Shop owners selling illegal products with age restrictions, to underage children, are not only breaking the law, but they are also displaying a complete lack of awareness about the consequences, the sale of these products can cause to young people.
“Our trading standards team has continued the excellent work it has already done in recent years, to stamp out the sale of these potentially harmful products, that are getting into the hands of young children.
“The operation which took place in March last year was a great success. I’m sure that such a large seizure of illegal products has not only benefitted Swansea, but also other cities and towns in the UK.”
