A Caernarfon convenience store has been ordered to pay nearly £13,000 after it was caught selling illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Trading standards officers from Gwynedd Council seized a large haul of illegal products from the Supercigs shop on Stryd y Llyn last September.

It followed an undercover operation in which an officer was sold illegal tobacco as a test purchase.

When officers returned to the shop on the same day, they seized more than 800 illegal products - including 225 packets of illicit cigarettes, 63 pouches of illicit hand rolling tobacco, 519 unauthorised disposable vapes and nicotine salts and 20 unauthorised PRIME branded squishies.

In court, the shop's owner - and sole director - Idres Kdher, went onto plead guilty to five charges, including three under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and one of fraud.

The shop, trading as Supercigs Convenience Store Ltd, was fined £9,062.20 and ordered to pay a further £1,751.48 in costs to Gwynedd Council and a £2,000 victim surcharge.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, cabinet member for the environment at Gwynedd Council, said: "Our trading standards officers work hard to ensure that the public can be confident in the goods they purchase from the county’s shops and businesses."

"This case shows that we take that responsibility seriously, and I’m pleased to see a successful trading standards prosecution in relation to the sale and supply of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes. The sentencing reflects the seriousness of these offences."

"Trade in illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes supports crime, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco and e-cigarettes to young people."

"Public protection is a priority, and the council will always take enforcement action where necessary to help keep our local communities safe as well as to support local businesses that comply with the law."

Caernarfon Magistrates Court ordered all of the goods seized by the trading standards team to be destroyed.