Sniffer dog finds illegal cigarettes inside 'hidden compartment' at Keighley shop
Police and Trading Standards officers raided Keighley Mini Market on North Street in December
THIS image shows the moment that a sniffer dog discovered a hidden compartment filled with counterfeit cigarettes under the floorboards of a Keighley shop.
Police and Trading Standards officers raided Keighley Mini Market at 125 North Street in December and found almost 600 packets of illegal cigarettes in various hidden spaces in and outside the convenience store.
Last week the shop was stripped of its alcohol licence by Bradford Council.
On December 4 last year the shop was visited by an undercover Trading Standards officer, who was sold a packet of cigarettes for £4.50. The standard price would be £17.
On December 9 the store was raided by Trading Standards and West Yorkshire Police. Licence holder Zikri Yassin Tayb was working in the shop at the time, and officers found a packet of illegal cigarettes in a jacket pocket.
A sniffer dog was brought in, and they led officers to a section of flooring in the shop.
It soon emerged that this was a hidden compartment, and upon lifting the floorboards officers found the compartment was filled with contraband.
Mr Tayb had keys for a Range Rover in his pocket, and officers inspected the vehicle, which was parked nearby.
They found a suitcase and large laundry bag containing a “large quantity of illicit tobacco products” in the boot.
In total, 584 packets of cigarettes and 22 pouches of hand rolling tobacco were seized from the shop and the vehicle.
On Wednesday Bradford Council’s Licensing Panel held a review of the shop due to a police and Trading Standards request to revoke the business’ licence.
PC Kevin Lord told the panel: “This was not just an isolated find. There were cigarettes stored in multiple locations that showed a concealment and distribution arrangement.
“He showed a complete and total failure in his responsibilities to prevent crime. What was being sold was unregulated and dangerous.
“Having a licence carries with it a responsibility to protect the public, not expose them to more harm.”
He said the sale of illegal cigarettes showed that Tyab could not be trusted to sell alcohol responsibly.
Tyab was not present at the hearing, but he was represented by solicitor Alias Yousaf.
Mr Yousaf said: “I’m not here to minimise your concerns – there was no justification, no excuse.
“But this was not an ongoing criminal enterprise, it was an isolated incident.
“When it comes to the hidden compartment, he was clearly in the wrong.
He suggested instead of revoking the licence, they suspend it to allow the store to appoint a new dedicated premises supervisor who would run a tighter ship.
He said revoking the licence would be a “terminal step” adding: “It would bring this business to an end.”
Chair of the panel Councillor Sabiya Khan (Lab, Wibsey) said: “Why is the designated premises supervisor not here himself?
“Were they here they may be able to instil some confidence.”
Councillor Marcus Dearden (Independent, Bingley) said questioned the idea that Mr Tyab would remain in charge of the shop, but appoint a new DPS.
Mr Yousaf said a new independent DPS would “ensure compliance” to licensing rules.
Cllr Dearden replied: “He’s got hidden contraband cigarettes under the floor boards. If he got a new supervisor would he say to him ‘never let me do that again?’”
Mr Yousaf replied: “That is an interesting way to put it.”
Councillor Chris Hayden (Lab, Eccleshill) said: “Does your client not have any confidence in himself?”
R Yousaf said: “He does, but clearly there have been issues. But there has not been a pattern of criminality over the years.
“I accept the hidden compartment doesn’t help our case.”
PC Lord said: “There are no conditions that could mitigate this behaviour.
“A new DPS would not change how the business is run. That is absolute nonsense. I have no confidence in future compliance. The licence holder is the architect of the criminality – whoever he puts in place, he is still in charge.”
Jason Bethell from Trading Standards said: “He has decided to get involved in organised crime and he has decided to commit serious criminal offences.”
Members of the panel voted to revoke the business’ alcohol licence.