A Cardiff shop owner and his business have been ordered to pay just under £6,500 after selling a vape to a 14-year-old child.
Jihad Abass Subhan, of Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, and his company, Corner Mini Market, were sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 9 June. Mr Subhan did not attend court, and the case was proved in his absence.
The case came to light following a sting operation carried out by Trading Standards officers, who use underage volunteers to check whether shops are selling age-restricted products to children.
Despite receiving a previous warning from officers of the Shared Regulatory Service in March 2025, following a previous failed purchase, a warning letter and guidance were issued to Mr Subhan, but the shop owner continued to sell harmful nicotine products to children and was caught again the following month.
Cllr Ed Stubbs, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council, said: “Mr Subhan was warned not to continue selling nicotine products to children and, despite this advice, chose to carry on. Nicotine products are harmful to people’s health, which is why laws are in place to restrict their sale. All shop owners are legally responsible for the products they sell, so this significant fine should send a clear message that proper checks must be carried out before selling nicotine products to customers.”
When officers entered the store after the test purchase in April 2025, Mr Subhan apologised and claimed he had been distracted as he was on the phone at the time of the sale. When questioned by officers about the checks required, including Challenge 25, he was unable to explain the basic procedures.
Selling vapes or other age-restricted products to under-18s is illegal, and businesses are expected to carry out proper age checks and have systems in place to refuse sales where necessary.
Mr Subhan was fined £2,000, ordered to pay an £800 victim surcharge, and £426 in costs.
The company, Corner Mini Market, for which Mr Subhan is the sole director, was also fined £2,000 and ordered to pay an £800 victim surcharge and £426 in costs.
