Mini-mart at centre of BBC investigation closed down

A mini-mart in the West Midlands has been closed for three months after an undercover BBC investigation exposed cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medicines being sold over the counter.

Crystal meth and cannabis had also been seized last week from the Cradley Market store, on Cradley High Street in Sandwell, leading to one arrest.

The force confirmed a 43-year-old man from Cradley Heath was charged with possession of Class A and Class B drugs. He is due before magistrates in August.

There was no representation from the store at the Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court hearing earlier, brought by Sandwell Borough Council. It said the shop had been reported as a serious nuisance.

The government is now looking at changing legislation, to allow authorities to close illegal mini-marts, barbers and vape shops for up to a year.

Praising the BBC's reporting last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said people felt high streets were being taken over by "organised crime [and] immigration criminality". The government was "not prepared to tolerate it", she said.

The BBC investigation, which lasted for more than a year, revealed shopfronts were being exploited by organised criminal gangs, pushing illegal drugs, say both the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

Shokat Lal, chief executive at Sandwell council, says he has been working with residents and other agencies to address the problems

Following the closure of the shop, Shokat Lal, chief executive at Sandwell council, said many complaints had been raised about incidents in Cradley Heath high street.

"It's a problem we're trying to deal with at a local level. We've been working with residents and other agencies to address the issue," he said.

"We're really hoping [the closure today] will act as a deterrent to other people who are operating, selling counterfeit goods or other criminal activity - particularly the selling of drugs.

"We hope people will realise that we won't tolerate illegal practices on our high street."

The closure comes on the same day that the National Police Chiefs Council revealed 300 people had been arrested as part of a crackdown on illegal trade, announced in the wake of the BBC investigation.

An undercover BBC investigation exposed cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medicines being sold over the counter at the shop

During the BBC's inquiries, researchers had been able to buy cocaine, as well as cannabis from the shop on two separate visits.

They were also offered a selection of prescription drugs.

Trading Standards said they had since visited the premises on 12 occasions, and had seized Illegal cigarettes, tobacco and drugs.

It also said the shop had been reported as a serious nuisance with cars pulling up and parking on double yellow lines, groups of people congregating outside the premises, plus issues with litter and noise.

After the BBC's first report in April, West Midlands Police arrested two people on suspicion of being involved in drug dealing linked to shops in Sandwell.

The force confirmed that those arrested remain on bail while inquiries continue.

Additional reporting by Patrick Clahane and Rebecca Wearn.

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