Police say ‘hive of illegal activity’ off-licence in West Bromwich should not be allowed to re-open

Sklep Europa in Carters Green, West Bromwich, has applied for a new licence from Sandwell Council six months after it was forced to shut down over the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, prescription-only medicine and counterfeit toys.

West Midlands Police said the shop had been “a continuous hive of illegal activity on a clearly organised scale” after it was caught selling “large quantities” of illegal goods on five separate occasions between 2024 and 2025.

The force also said the shop had been caught abstracting electricity and its supply was disconnected, only to reopen the next day with the electricity re-connected.

A closure order for the shop was issued by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court in July 2025 after the shop had continued to sell illegal items despite the warnings.

West Midlands Police called for the application by Faruq Fariq Mahmood to be rejected as he was connected to other businesses caught selling illicit tobacco and other illegal items.

Sandwell Council’s licensing committee meets on Friday, January 9 to decide on the application.

“Given the level of concern over this location and the continued criminal activity, the intelligence regarding the new applicant and indeed the lack of transparency in terms of the new tenant, it leads West Midlands Police to believe this is simply an attempt to put a new name forward and get the shop back licensed,” the objection said.

West Midlands Police said the closure was the result of the “continued sale of illegal items including tobacco, vapes, prescription-only medication and foreign medication".

“Despite continuous seizures, the shop finds new ways to trade in illicit items, conceal items in new places and change the layout of the shop,” police added.

“As such the location has been a continuous hive of illegal activity on a clearly organised scale.”

The shop had sold an illegal vape to an undercover 16-year-old in October 2023 during a sting by trading standards officers.

The shop was then inspected five times between April 2024 and July 2025. “Large quantities” of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco were found on every occasion, as well as counterfeit toys on a single occasion.

Sandwell Council's trading standards department said Mr Mahmood could not be considered a “fit and proper person” to hold a premises licence.

“The business has secured a new lease and applied for a new premises licence,” the objection said.

“The leaseholder is a different person to the applicant for the premises licence. The applicant for the premises licence has been linked to multiple other shops selling illicit tobacco.

“One of the two new leaseholders of the premises has been linked to a shop that sold illicit tobacco.

“It is [our] opinion that this is an attempt to give the impression of a fresh, new business, with new owners and responsible enough to have a licence to sell alcohol.

“We do not believe the applicant could be considered a fit and proper person, in view of his links to illicit tobacco.

“Considering the establishment’s history, which demonstrates a consistent disregard for the licensing objectives and the law, our recommendation is for the panel to reject this application for a premises license.”