Chewing tobacco sold illegally

A dairy owner has been convicted for selling chewing tobacco under the counter.

Rakesh Chand Lal, 41, from Avondale, was convicted in Auckland District Court and ordered to appear for sentence within 12 months if required.

The conviction followed an operation in June last year to find out if illegally imported chewing tobacco was being sold under the counter in Auckland.

Graeme Gillespie, the Ministry of Health's head of environmental health policy, said the ministry and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service had campaigned to educate retailers about legal issues and the health risks of chewing tobacco.

"We hope this [prosecution] sends a clear message," he said.

- NZPA