Shop gives up licence over illicit cigarettes

Police said they found 578 packets of illegal cigarettes and 74 pouches of illegal tobacco in the boot of the BMW

A shop linked to illicit tobacco found in the boot of a nearby car has voluntarily surrendered its alcohol licence.

Police found more than 600 packets of illegal cigarettes and pouches of hand-rolling tobacco in the possession of Viva Mini Market on Kettering Road, Northampton, in March.

Reform UK-controlled West Northamptonshire Council's licensing committee heard there had been several allegations that the shop was selling illegal cigarettes, tobacco and disposable e-cigarettes.

If Viva Mini Market wants to sell alcohol in the future, the owner will need to apply for a new licence.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the committee originally met on 18 June to discuss what action to take on the store, but it adjourned the meeting after it heard the licence had been voluntarily surrendered at the start of June.

According to the council report, there was intelligence suggesting the store was selling the illicit goods from the boot of a blue BMW, which had been parked around the corner on Hood Street for some time.

Officers went to the store on 12 March and seized more than 200 illegal vapes on display behind the counter.

A key to the BMW was found on a member of staff and 578 packets of illegal cigarettes and 74 pouches of illegal tobacco were removed from the boot.

Neither Viva Mini Market's former licence holder nor Northamptonshire Police attended the hearing as the licence had been surrendered.

The licence had allowed the shop to sell alcohol between 07:00 and midnight.