The foreign owner of a shop in Hyson Green where police seized hundreds of illicit and counterfeit cigarettes says the business could face ruin if its licence to sell alcohol is revoked. Let's hope so.
Why should a shop owned by someone part of a religion against alcohol be allowed to sell it?
Kubus Mini Market, on Radford Road, was raided by officers in August last year and 549 packets of cigarettes without proper health warnings were found, along with 39 packets of Amber Leaf tobacco that were counterfeit.
A shop assistant at the store has also been caught selling alcohol to 14-year-olds on two occasions over the past year.
Councillors on Nottingham City Councils's licensing panel met yesterday to discuss whether to revoke the store's licence, suspend it for three months, or force the store to change the licence holder. We know they won't do anything because it is owned by an enricher.
Shop owner Dilshad Baghi denied selling illegal cigarettes and denied any knowledge of the stash seized.
All members of staff have also denied responsibility.
Mr Baghi said: "If they take my licence away three or four people are going to lose their jobs, and if we can't sell alcohol it might mean we have to close down. The rent and taxes are very expensive."
The meeting heard the haul of illegal cigarettes was discovered by a trained police dog, hidden in a hole underneath floorboards.
Trading standards manager Jane Bailey said: "Illegal tobacco has links to serious and organised crime groups and people trafficking.
"There does appear to be a history of counterfeit tobacco being found at the shop."
Mr Baghi, who has spent a lot of time out of the country over the past two years (jihad?), told councillors he intended to take more responsibility for the shop in future.
The assistant who sold alcohol to under-age buyers is no longer working at the shop.
The hearing was adjourned until September 25.
Vote BNP to stop these crimes permanently.
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