Northampton shop loses licence after discovery of illegal cigarettes and vapes
Euro Star Minimarket caught in breach with over 500 illegal items seized
Euro Star Minimarket on Wellingborough Road, Northampton, has been stripped of its licence to sell alcohol after authorities discovered a significant cache of illegal cigarettes and vapes at the site.
In March, Northamptonshire Police and the council’s trading standards officers visited the premises, initially conducting a test purchase where cigarettes were sold for £4.
Further investigation later that day revealed over 500 packets of illicit cigarettes and 83 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco in a vehicle parked outside, and 198 illegal vapes were found behind the shop counter.
Responding to concerns for crime and disorder prevention, Northamptonshire Police requested West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) review the shop’s licence.
A licensing panel convened on August 17th, discussing the circumstances leading to the review and ultimately deciding to revoke the store's ability to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm daily.
During the committee meeting, accounts from Northamptonshire Police’s Alcohol Licensing Officer described further breaches. Another visit in June 2026 involved a test purchase where illegal Esse cigarettes were acquired for £5.
Follow-up inspections found an empty concealed storage area but no illicit items.
Estimates suggest the seized cigarettes from the first raid would have had a retail value of £11,458. This included counterfeit, foreign-labelled, and cheap white cigarettes alongside counterfeit tobacco pouches.
The council revoked the licence after the owner failed to respond to repeated warnings.