A HEREFORD shop with a history of selling illicit tobacco has had its licence suspended.

Herefordshire Council's regulatory sub committee agreed to the measure at a hearing on Tuesday after a joint police and Herefordshire Council Trading Standards operation uncovered illegal tobacco at Zabka on Eign Gate.

The premises was granted a licence in March 2015 despite objections from police and Herefordshire Council Trading Standards due to the previous and recent history with the shop – which did not involve current owner Zardashit Karem Salh.

As a result of information received, a joint police and Herefordshire Council Trading Standards search warrant was executed at the shop last Thursday.

Mr Salh was not in the shop at the time but three members of staff were present and illegal tobacco was found under the counter and hidden in two freezers within the premises.

Inspector Nick Semper, with West Mercia Police, told the committee: “It has now been established that 299 packets of cigarettes and one packet of rolling tobacco were seized, some of which are believed to be counterfeit produced items.

“That makes a total of 5,980 cigarettes. The vast majority of these items did not have the required English worded health warnings which is a criminal offence itself.”

A live joint criminal investigation is now ongoing.

When interviewed by police, Mr Salh made no comment to all questions.

Other members of staff were also interviewed and one stated that tobacco had been sold under the counter ever since they had been employed at the store.

They stated that packets of cigarettes were sold for £4 each – an amount well under the normal retail selling cost which is in the region of £8 a packet.

Police were applying for the special hearing on Tuesday, which Mr Salh did not attend, to seek the suspension of the premises licence. This was agreed to by the committee.

Called an expedited review, the application starts a fast-track process towards a full review of a licence which will take place at a later date.