Black Country shop repeatedly caught selling illegal cigarettes stripped of licence

A shop has been stripped of its licence after it was caught repeatedly selling illegal cigarettes.

G&G Market in High Street, Cradley Heath, had its licence revoked by Sandwell Council on Thursday (July 30) after selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco products just weeks after opening in November last year. 

West Midlands Police said the shop had been “undeterred” after numerous illegal cigarettes and tobacco products, as well as prescription-only medicine, were seized and continued selling illicit goods – even to an undercover child – despite several warnings. 

The shop was forced to shut earlier in July after being issued with a three-month closure order by Dudley magistrates. By stripping the shop of its licence, any prospective new owner would have to re-apply for a licence to re-open.

West Midlands Police had argued that a temporary suspension could see the shop re-open and continue selling illegal goods once the ban had ended.

The force’s licensing officer asked the hearing: “If they are prepared to sell cigarettes to a child, what else are they prepared to sell?”

“They have had multiple opportunities to do the right thing and they haven’t. There is no intention to do the right thing,” the force added.

“This is a business that is completely undeterred.”

The shop’s licence holder Hozan Sharify did not attend the hearing. 

West Midlands Police said the shop had shown a “blatant disregard” for the regulations and the “only proportionate step” was to revoke the licence. 

“The sale of illicit tobacco and cigarettes is often linked to organised crime including people trafficking and immigration crime, exploitation, evasion of duty and money laundering,” the force added.

“Additionally, this activity is a threat to public health and safety due to the unknown nature of what is in the products and as is demonstrated in this case, young people and children are also put at risk.”

In a report published ahead of the meeting, Sandwell’s trading standards said: “The premises have been involved in the sale of illegal tobacco products since at least December 2025. The licence was only granted in November. 

“Multiple offences regarding the possession and supply of illegal cigarettes have been identified from the premises, including supplying to a person under the age of eighteen. 

“It is [our] view that the whole setup of the premises – the concealment of illegal cigarettes, the lack of legal cigarettes and the behaviour of the proprietors – all give rise to the conclusion that the main purpose of the premises is the supply of illegal cigarettes and tobacco.”

The closure order is the sixth issued to shops in Cradley Heath in recent weeks following a stampdown by Sandwell Council.

Earlier this month, Cradley Market, also in the town’s High Street, was forced to close for three months after it was found selling cocaine, cannabis, crystal meth, and prescription medicine over the counter.

On Monday (July 27), two more shops, International Vape in the town’s Lower High Street and All Day in Cradley Road were both forced to close for three months after being hit with orders by magistrates.