West Midlands business shut down after raids - here's why

Boss Mark 4, on Stratford Road, Solihull, has been permanently closed by Solihull's licensing team following an investigation into the sale of illegal goods. 

The licensing team joined forces with West Midlands Police's Shirley neighbourhood policing team, with the investigation following multiple incidents of failed test purchases and repeated seizures of illegal tobacco and vape pens. 

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An application for a closure order was being pursued by the team; however, the owner of the business, Dawood Kharoty, was evicted by the landlord, and the shop was shut down. 

The landlord of the building agreed to evict the business owner and staff, along with all of their stock, leading to the closure order being withdrawn. 

Kharoty, of Ferguson Road, Oldbury, was sentenced in his absence at Birmingham Magistrates Court, where he was given fines totalling £6749, which is due for payment within 28 days. 

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized items. 

The sentencing comes following the team's last visit to the business on February 4, where 4350 packets of illegal tobacco and 837 packets of illegal hand rolling tobacco were seized. 

In the same raid, 68 single-use vapes were also seized, as well as 27 'Labubu' dolls, which were suspected to be counterfeit. 

Fireworks were also found on the premises; however, the business is not licensed to sell them, and they were not stored safely. 

Police constable Prescott, from the Solihull licensing team, said: "Our teams work hard to support our partners with investigations around all reports of offences being committed at retail premises – and we’ve been determined to take action at this location.

"Our aim is to protect vulnerable victims and make our community safer.

"Selling high-strength vapes and selling vapes to children pose a serious health risk to children and young people living in the vicinity of the shop. Cigarettes and vapes sold at low prices can make the products attractive to children and encourage smoking at an early age. Supplying these products to children can open them to potential exploitation and criminality.

"The seized products (illegal disposable vapes, illegal cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco) have a serious detriment to the general public’s health. Many of the seized vapes contain many times the permitted volume of liquid containing nicotine, which encourages addiction. Illegal vapes also contain possible traces of heavy metals.

Counterfeit tobacco can contain high levels of tar and nicotine, as well as other unknown/unregulated substances, as the quality control during production is unknown.

Mr Prescott continued: "It is well-known that stores selling illegal tobacco contribute to anti-social behaviour within the local communities.

“We rely on information received from the public to be able to act. If you have any information, please call 101. Alternatively, you can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111