An off-licence in Harehills has had its licence revoked after tens of thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco was found at the shop in multiple raids, stated reports on Monday (17).
It followed an application by West Yorkshire Trading Standards to revoke the shop’s licence to sell alcohol.
According to trading standards and police, those running Mama Mia Convenience Store in Harehills Lane continued to sell illicit alcohol and tobacco even after police raids at the back end of 2020.
The meeting heard from a Trading Standards representative that, on June 24, 2020 – police recovered 2,757 packets of cigarettes and 496 pouches of tobacco. On November 23, 2020 – a trading standards officer did a test purchase and bought 20 counterfeit Richmond cigarettes for £5.
On November 27, bags of illegal tobacco were found hidden behind a panel, as well as in the roof and cellar of the building. 1,200 packets of cigarettes and more tobacco – trading standards also said £33,000 in cash was also recovered. They also claimed 970 litres of non duty paid vodka was found at the shop, stated local reports.
In total, four seizures of illegal tobacco happened at the premises.
Both directors of the company, Ali Mohamad and Aram Mohammed, appeared at Leeds Crown Court earlier this month, pleading guilty to numerous offences around trading false goods. Sentencing is set to take place on February 9, 2022.
The trading standards representative added, “The premises licence holder has failed to uphold the licensing objectives. The supply of illegal tobacco is taking place at the premises.”
The meeting was told the value of the 5,000 packets of seized cigarettes was approximately £50,000, with an illicit value of around half that. The 800 packets of hand rolling tobacco were said to be worth between £5,000 and £15,000.
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