Sheffield shop faces losing licence over illegal tobacco and vape sales
It comes after trading standards seized almost 5,000 illegal cigarettes from the store
A Sheffield convenience store is facing a review of its alcohol licence over evidence that it sold illegal cheap cigarettes and vapes.
The off sales licence for Newman Convenience on Newman Road, Wincobank is being discussed by Sheffield City Council’s licensing sub-committee next Monday (February 2). Sheffield Trading Standards is seeking its cancellation on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the protection of children from harm.
The application is supported by South Yorkshire Police, Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership and Sheffield Public Health.
The licence is held by Ali Abdullah Ibrahimi.
A report to the committee said that Trading Standards officers visited the shop on August 11, 2025 and seized 4,660 illegal cigarettes and 271 illegal vapes. These were found concealed in a wall in a compartment opened using an electronic key fob.
Another visit three days later in response to a complaint of under-age selling at the shop found that there were no due diligence procedures in place to prevent under-age sales.
On September 8 an undercover test purchaser was able to buy a pack of Top Gun cheap white cigarettes for £4.
A specialist tobacco detection dog helped Trading Standards officers locate a concealed area in the shop in December. Officers seized 2,180 illegal cigarettes and 11 packs of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.
The report said: “The goods seized by Trading Standards on each occasion are suspected to have been smuggled or illegally imported as they are not permitted to be sold in the UK and should not be stocked in wholesale or retail premises for supply.”