A Scottish company director has been disqualified from managing a business for eight years following an incident involving the importation of raw tobacco concealed within furniture. Fazle Masum, 42, was found to have brought in the tobacco shipments without obtaining the necessary authorization from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a requirement that has been in place since 2017.

The scheme came to light when Border Force officers intercepted a container at the port of Grangemouth in 2022. The shipment was registered to Unique Enterprise Ltd, a company operated by Masum. However, the firm did not hold the valid HMRC approval required to legally handle raw tobacco products.

Subsequent investigations led to Unique Enterprise Ltd being slapped with a financial penalty amounting to £152,980. Despite attempts by Masum to have the tobacco returned by formally applying to Border Force, the business was ultimately unable to recover the seized goods. The company later entered liquidation, with debts reportedly reaching close to £175,000.

The eight-year ban on Masum prohibits him from acting as a company director, reflecting the serious regulatory breach involved in importing controlled tobacco products without proper clearance. The case underscores the enforcement measures in place to combat illicit trade and ensure compliance with established tax and customs regulations in the tobacco industry.