Laughing gas canisters and illicit tobacco found at Bolton store

Almost 5,000 canisters of ‘laughing gas’ nitrous oxide and illicit tobacco was found during a trading standards visit to a convenience store, a licensing hearing has heard.

When officers attended the 657 Convenience Store on Bury Road, Breightmet, owned by Mohammed Alim Maihan, they found a shop worker attempting to hide tobacco.

A Bolton trading standards report submitted to a panel of Bolton Council reviewing the shop’s premises licence, gave details of the visit.

It stated: “On November 5, 2020 an officer from Bolton Council regulatory services visited 657 Convenience Store with a tobacco detection dog and handler and officers from Great Manchester Police.

“The man behind the till was observed by the officers attempting to hide goods in a bin bag.

“The officers went behind the till and found a clear bag with 10 pouches of hand rolling tobacco inside this bin bag.

“The man said he was not the owner of the business.

“Upon further inspection, a further nine pouches of hand rolling tobacco and 40 packets of cigarettes were located on a shelf underneath the till which were not legal for sale in the UK.

“As a result, the products were seized by the officer.

“The worker said he’d been told to put the tobacco there by the owner.

“Alcohol was on display for sale in the shop. Upon request, a copy of the premises licence was not produced and was not on display in the shop.”

The panel heard from trading standards officer Liam Kelly.

He said: “In addition to the illegal tobacco there were 4,750 canisters of nitrous oxide found in the back room of the shop.”

In May 2016, the Psychoactive Substances Act made it illegal for a person to sell or give away nitrous oxide for recreational purposes.

Panel member Cllr Sue Haworth said that a member of the public had given a view that empty silver nitrous oxide canisters had been seen strewn outside the premises on at least one previous occasion.

Panel chair Cllr Murasir Dean said Mr Maihan had given an explanation that the nitrous oxide canisters were sold legitimately to home bakers as a cooking product.

Cllr Dean, said: “4,750 canister is a very, very large number in a shop of your size.

“Are you aware that they are used by children for illegal purposes?”

Mr Maihan, replied: “No sir. If people are selling them to children and other people they should be punished.”

Mr Maihan also told the panel that the illicit tobacco found did not belong to him and that he had provided legitimate invoices of his tobacco purchases from a cash and carry.

The panel said they would inform Mr Maihan about the review of the licence within five working days.

The decision will then be made public.