Stockport shop in trouble after retailer caught hiding stash of illegal cigarettes

A ‘money-motivated’ off-licence owner tried to hide a stash of illegal cigarettes and vapes in his car as police and trading standards officers raided his shop.

Drinks Allowed – trading as Go Local – in Edgeley, Stockport, could now effectively be shut down at a hearing to review its premises licence next week.

It comes after cops and licensing chiefs visited the Castle Street store last August as part of national illicit tobacco disruption initiative Operation CeCe.

The shop, owned and run by Akshay Singh Ahuja, had previously been caught selling booze to a 19-year-old test-purchaser without checking ID.

It has also been subject to a catalogue of complaints about under-age alcohol sales, ‘fake tobacco’ and vodka that ‘tastes like anti-freeze’.

A report to a council sub-committee outlines how officials did not initially discover any illicit items during a visit to the shop on August 25, 2021.

However, the ‘young male’ left in charge of the store was not authorised or trained to sell alcohol.

But once the team had moved on, GMP received reports that a man was putting tobacco into a car at the back of the premises.

“The team diverted to the vehicle at the rear of 18 Castle Street and a male who identified himself as Akshay Ahuja and, the owner of the shop and vehicle, came outside,” the report continues.

“Upon access to the vehicle, the team discovered and seized 400 illicit cigarettes, 2,050g of illicit hand rolling tobacco and 230 illegal vapes with a street value of approximately £1,500.”

It adds: “The items discovered in Mr Ahuja’s vehicle had been deliberately moved and hidden by him in an attempt to evade seizure by the enforcement team.

“These actions clearly suggest that Mr Ahuja is aware that the possession and supply of these items is illegal.

“Motivated by money and with little care for the impact on communities and the UK economy, the licence holder is failing to fulfil the licensing objectives [which include prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of harm to children].

“Mr Ahuja is also sole director of the company operating Go Local at 18 Castle Street, Edgeley and demonstrates complete disregard for the law.”

Mr Ahuja also runs Edgeley Local, at nearby 41 Castle Street, which was granted a premises licence in September 2020.

Ward councillors urged the licensing panel not to grant the licence as the street was blighted by ‘alcohol fuelled’ anti-social behaviour.

However, the three-strong committee decided the application was ‘good’ and had to be treated on its own merits.

A report by trading standards officer Dennis Chalmers suggests that the problems with anti-social behaviour and intimidation still persist in the area.

“Whilst speaking to the owner of the premises and seizing the goods from the vehicle a group of several youths who were outside of the premises started to be abusive and shouting at the police and trading Standards officers,” it reads.

“At one point it took four police officers to deal with the youths who were now nose to nose with officers, shouting abuse.

“The officers gave a final warning to the youths to go away or they would be arrested, whilst the police were dealing with the disturbance caused by the youths, unknown to us was that some of the youths had removed the number plate from the police vehicle.

“They then rode off waving the number plate, goading the police to chase them.”

Mr Chalmers adds that, while police were dealing with the youths, he was being verbally abused by a group of females shouting ‘have you nothing better to do, f*** off the street’.

“At this point it was decided for a quick withdraw from the area, due to the hostility in the area from the public.”

He continues: “I would have serious reservations against the management of the shop dispensing alcohol from the premises or from leaving the premises in the control of persons ‘fit and proper’ for the purposes of complying with the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003.

Stockport council’s Licensing, Environment & Safety Sub-Committee A meets at the town hall next Wednesday (March 9).