West Midlands Police has raised concerns over plans to change a shop’s licence after it was caught with illegal tobacco and selling alcohol without permission.
Menna Market in High Street, Cradley Heath has applied to change its licence which has led to an objection from the region’s police force.
The shop has been searched twice in the last two years with non-duty paid alcohol and quantities of illegal tobacco and cigarettes found on both occasions alongside illicit vapes.
The shop had also continued to sell alcohol despite having its licence suspended over the non-payment of annual fees.
Sandwell Council’s licensing committee meets on September 22 to decide on the application.
The shop’s current licence was issued to Drink Time Ltd in October 2024 by Sandwell Council with Aram Ibrahemi, who holds a personal licence with Coventry City Council, listed as both premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor (DPS).
An application was made in August to change the named licence holder to Drink Time Ltd and to list Magdir Mamant Mohamad, who holds a personal licence issued by East Staffordshire Council and is the sole director of Drink Time Ltd, as the new designated premises supervisor.
West Midlands Police said it believed Mr Mohamad had been involved with the business “throughout the period of concern” and the application was an attempt to “deflect responsibility” for illegal items found during inspections and the unlicensed sale of alcohol.
An objection from West Midlands Police said: “The shop is clearly involved in the sale of illicit items and the transfer […] applications simply reflect an attempt to move the licence to another name whilst the premises is under investigation for illicit sales.
“West Midlands Police are of the opinion this is not a new person and that Magdir Mamant Mohamad, the proposed DPS and sole director of the applicant company, Drink Time Limited, has been involved throughout the period of concern.
“As such, West Midlands Police contend that the granting of the transfer and variation of the designated premises supervisor are simply an attempt to deflect responsibility for the previous visits where illicit items have been found and alcohol has been sold without a licence.
“Furthermore, Mr Mohamad is not a new person to this business and so the granting of these applications would undermine the crime prevention objective.”
Several shops in Cradley Heath were forced to close over the summer following a stamp down by Sandwell Council.
Cradley Market, also in the town’s High Street, was forced to close for three months after it was found selling cocaine, cannabis, crystal meth, and prescription medicine over the counter.
International Vape in the town’s Lower High Street and All Day in Cradley Road were both forced to close for three months after being hit with orders by magistrates.
G&G Market had its licence revoked by Sandwell Council in July after selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco products just weeks after opening in November last year.
West Midlands Police said the shop had been “undeterred” after numerous illegal cigarettes and tobacco products, as well as prescription-only medicine, were seized and continued selling illicit goods – even to an undercover child – despite several warnings.
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