A MINI-MARKET in Derby has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked after almost 17,000 illicit cigarettes were discovered there during a raid.
Derbyshire police, Derby City Council's licensing team and its safeguarding children board all expressed concerns about the Riga Mini-Market, in Normanton Road.
Police say a joint-operation with trading standards officers on May 28 discovered 16,940 illicit cigarettes at the shop, along with 1.8kg of illicit rolling tobacco.
An earlier police visit, on March 21 found 1,400 illicit cigarettes.
That has now led to the licence to sell alcohol held by the shop's owner, Nabaz Ali, being revoked.
The decision was made by the council's general licensing sub committee, chaired by Councillor Mick Barker.
Mr Barker said: "There was evidence to substantiate the fact that illicit tobacco was being traded at the shop and that reduces confidence in his ability to be able to work under the four principles of liquor licensing."
Mr Ali maintains that, in both May and March, he had no idea the cigarettes involved were counterfeit.
When the Derby Telegraph visited the store it found there was no alcohol on sale.
Mr Ali said he had no fears about the future of the business after the licence revocation but that fewer staff would now be needed.
