Illegal vodka has been seized from an off-licence in Plumstead.

Tipen Siwa from DJ off-licence in Brewery Road was caught selling bottles of vodka that had been smuggled into the country without any excise duty being paid.

Bexley Magistrates’ Court heard two trading standards officers made the discovery when they visited the premises to give advice on how to avoid selling alcohol to underage youths.

They discovered 37 counterfeit Smirnoff bottles on sale and 82 more in a store room.

Siwa claimed his wife bought the alcohol and he was not aware if the duty had been paid or not.

But he was fined £3,000, and ordered to pay costs of £1,830 and a victim surcharge of £120 after pleading guilty to six charges including fraud and licensing offences on May 18.

The court also ordered the illegal goods that had been seized should be forfeited.

Greenwich Council's cabinet member for community safety and environment Councillor Jackie Smith said: "Selling alcohol illegally is a serious matter.

"It risks the health of our residents where industrial alcohol could be present and disadvantages other businesses in the borough.

"We will not hesitate to prosecute where we find the law is broken."

Anyone who suspects a premises of selling alcohol or tobacco illegally should call Greenwich Trading Standards on 020 8921 8223 or email tradingstandards@royalgreenwich.gov.uk