A CAR dealer caught with two suitcases full of 46,000 illicit cigarettes as he was driving through Bradford has been given a community order.

Tudor Strisca, 26, was sentenced by Bradford and Keighley magistrates after he admitted possessing the cigarettes with intent to supply.

The self employed car dealer was stopped by police in March. When they searched his car they found two suitcases full of Minsk cigarettes which were not for legal sale in the UK as they did not contain statutory health warnings.

His 12 month community order includes 50 hours of unpaid work and a contribution of £958 in prosecution costs.

Strisca, of Clement Street, Wakefield, claimed he was not aware of what was in the suitcases, and that a friend had asked him to deliver them to a third party while he was travelling to Bradford for business.

After the case, David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said “Health warnings on tobacco products enhance consumer knowledge of the dangers of tobacco use.

"We have strict legislation in place to protect consumers from harm and to ensure all individuals and traders of tobacco are complying with the law.

"Smoking is currently at an all-time low and unlabelled cigarettes undermines the work we do promote healthier communities."