Winton Bargain C-store loses premises licence

A Bargain convenience store in Winton has had its premises licence removed after it was found selling smuggled tobacco linked to eastern European organised crime. 

According to local reports, Bargain Convenience Store in Wimborne Road, Winton, will no longer be able to legally sell alcohol or tobacco products following a recently-held hearing conducted by BCP Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee. 

As reported, Dorset Police and its partners at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) previously identified that the premises had “fundamentally failed in the objective to prevent crime and disorder through facilitating the sale and storage of smuggled tobacco” following an intelligence-led operation. 

Earlier in July this year, officers from Dorset Police, Trading Standards and HMRC attended the shop and seized 2,800 cigarettes and 1kg of hand-rolling tobacco. These products were confirmed by the owner Ali Zmnako, as being smuggled and had not been subject of UK duty, stated reports. 

Police then applied to the council to review the premises licence. 

At the hearing on September 29, a Dorset Police licensing officer said their concern was how an operator “with so many years of experience has engaged with organised crime of this nature” and recommended its licence be revoked. 

The committee also heard how ‘eastern European’ men owed money to Zmanko, who accepted the smuggled tobacco as a part payment of their debt. 

The value of the duty that had not been paid on the seized products was estimated at £1,634. Zmnako confirmed at the hearing he had not yet paid the owed duty to HMRC. 

Following the conclusion of the meeting, a BCP Council spokesperson said, “Having considered the application to review the premises licence for Bargain Convenience Store, 495 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, last week the Sub Committee decided to revoke the premises licence on the grounds that the premises are not upholding the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.”