A convenience store in Bognor Regis had its alcohol licence revoked last week by Arun District Council following an investigation by West Sussex County Council Trading Standards.
Mr Nareman Ahmed, the licence holder, has been given 21 days to appeal the review decision, after West Sussex Tradings Standards officers found he was in possession and sale of illegal tobacco at his Euro Express store, Canada Grove, Bognor Regis.
In March 2015, over 400 packets of cigarettes and six pouches of loose tobacco were discovered in Mr Ahmed’s store.
Trading Standards officers discovered that the items were kept in a secret compartment, hidden within the ceiling that could be operated by an electronic device to give staff access.
And later that month, an undercover Trading Standards officer revisited the store and purchased four packets of counterfeit cigarettes.
As Mr Ahmed was no longer promoting the licensing objectives at these premises under the Licensing Act 2003, the licensing subcommittee decided to revoke the licence.
Mr Ahmed denied responsibility and blamed an employee for the two incidents.
Richard Sargeant, Team Manager for Trading Standards, said: “Cheap, illicit tobacco can be attractive to those on low incomes, including young people, who are amongst the priority groups we are particularly keen to support to not start, or to give up smoking.
“Counterfeit cigarettes that do not self-extinguish are dangerous and have in the past led to house fires.
“We are grateful to consumers and local businesses who have supplied valuable information and we are committed to tackling this illegal trade”.
Councillor Terence Chapman, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health at Arun District Council, said: “It is clear from the result of this hearing and the revocation of this licence that both Arun District Council and Trading Standards take unlawful activity very seriously.
“The Licensing Committee heard all the representation and on the balance of the evidence provided to them, made a firm decision based on the seriousness of this case.”
David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents Services with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “Selling fake and illegally imported tobacco can put people’s health at risk and harm legitimate traders.
“These products help fund organised crime and we are sending out a clear message to businesses that we will take robust action to remove illegal tobacco from the market place.”
If you have any information about illegal tobacco sales please let Trading Standards know by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or by reporting details to https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/consumer-advice/