A Mile End shop which sold a knife to a child and stocked illegal alcohol and vapes has been fined over £35,000 by a court.
China Ark Supermarket, located at 84 Mile End Road, sold a 6.5-inch cleaver to a 15-year-old during an undercover test carried out by Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards Team, with support from the Metropolitan Police, on 13 September 2024.
Thames Magistrates’ Court heard how the knife was sold by a shop assistant without any attempt to verify the young person’s age.
Following the underage sale, further investigations uncovered other serious issues.
On 27 September 2024, Trading Standards officers visited the store again and were able to purchase alcohol despite the shop having no premises licence.
One of the drinks sold had an alcohol strength of 56 per cent.
Officers returned on 30 September 2024 and seized:
- 252 bottles and cans of alcohol that were on display for sale without a licence.
- 288 illegal vapes, many of which had packaging in foreign languages, making them unlawful to sell in the UK.
The court heard that when questioned by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards officers, the shop assistant, Ning Yang Cao, said he didn’t know the legal age for buying knives, but still completed the sale after the child didn’t answer his question about their age.
The court also heard how company director Xiongdi He told officers that there was no staff training or written policy in place for age-restricted sales, nor any till prompts, and that he believed his father’s personal licence covered the sale of alcohol at the premises. He also admitted to buying cheap vapes from a supplier in Singapore without checking if they were legal to sell in the UK.
The prosecution was brought by the Council’s Legal Services Team before Thames Magistrates’ Court on 10 June 2025, where all three defendants pleaded guilty to their charges.
- Asian Food Ltd, the company which owns China Ark Supermarket, was fined £22,800, plus a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,290.11 in costs, totalling £27,090.11.
- Xiongdi He was fined £4,800, plus a £190 victim surcharge and £2,290.11 in costs, totalling £7,280.11.
- Ning Yang Cao was fined £576, plus a £230 victim surcharge and £250 in costs, totalling £1,056.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement, said:
"We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our young people so it crucial to crack down on this activity which can contribute to crime in our communities and harm so many lives.
“Our Trading Standards Officers take a proactive approach to disrupt illegal trading and these prosecutions send a clear message that we will not tolerate businesses which are flouting the law."
For more information, email communications@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 020 7364 4389.
Posted on Wednesday 9th July 2025