A former Ipswich shopkeeper has admitted selling thousands of counterfeit and dangerous cigarettes at his stores in the town.

Akam Abdullah, of Highfield Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to Baltic Mini Market in Felixstowe Road and Cost Price in Foxhall Road when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Both businesses have since been sold and are under new ownership.

Abdullah’s case was brought by the Suffolk County Council Trading Standards Department.

Abdullah admitted possessing 2,360 Mayfair King Size cigarettes bearing a false trademark at Baltic Mini Market on September 18 last year.

He also admitted a similar charge relating to 1,880 Mayfair King Size cigarettes at Cost Price on the same day.

Abdullah pleaded guilty to five charges of distributing or supplying a dangerous product at both shops.

These related to 2,500 Pect Blue and 1,580 Bendal cigarettes at Cost Price, along with 1,640 NZ Gold and 1,260 Esse Aura cigarettes at Baltic Mini Market.

In addition Abdullah admitted two charges of a producer failing to comply with the requirements of regulations when supplying a tobacco product.

The charges involved 253 packs of cigarettes and 136 pouches of 50 gramme hand-rolling tobacco at Baltic Mini Market which did not bear on the most visible surface the health warnings in the official language of the member state.

At Cost Price there were 406 packs and 10 pouches of tobacco without the health warnings on the most visible surface.

Abdullah entered his pleas at the first hearing of his case.

Sentencing was adjourned.

Abdullah is due to return to the magistrates’ court in Ipswich tomorrow.

The charges arose after a lengthy investigation by trading standards officers following raids at the two shops in September last year.