Premise licence of a Wakefield store has been revoked as illegal cigarettes and vapes exceeding the nicotine limit were found on the premises.
A licensing hearing was told how police carried out the operation after receiving intelligence about illegal activity happening at Ratnams Food and Wine on Hambleton Street, Eastmoor.
According to local reports, test officers visited the premise on March 3 where they were sold two 20-packs of counterfeit cigarettes. The packs were sold for £5 each as compared to average UK price of £12.50 and the money was then placed in the till by the shop assistant.
Later that day, police recovered 300 illegal cigarettes packs of illegal cigarettes. Vapes were also on sale which contained levels of nicotine much higher than the legal limit.
The licensing committee heard that this was not the first time the store has come to the attention of the authorities as in 208, licence holder, Aruliny Pamathas, was given a written warning when police and council officers tried to tackle street drinking.
The store was also made the subject of a three-month action plan in 2015 for failing to comply with licensing regulations, reports stated.
Meanwhile, Pamathas’ solicitor claimed that she was not at the store when the test purchase officers and police officers attended and was also unaware that illegal cigarettes were being sold at her store.
“She says that she certainly hasn’t received any income from illegal cigarettes. She has not seen any illegal cigarettes whatsoever,” reports quoted the solicitor as saying, who added that though she accepted full responsibility for the vapes.
The committee was also told that Pamathas “will remove her husband from the business and herself work more” to take care of the store.
Licensing officer Phil Jacques said that despite the explanations that have been submitted, the fact that the money goes through the till, they find it difficult to accept that the licence holder would not have been aware of the illegal sales.
“Given the serious nature of the illegal sales taking place they have decided to revoke the premises licence,” reports quoted Jacques as saying.
To use this website you must be aged 18 years or over. Please verify your age before entering the site.
