Licenses revoked from two Droylsden shops following illegal sales

TWO Droylsden shops have lost their licenses following repeated sales of illegal cigarettes, vapes and counterfeit goods.

Tameside Council Speakers Panel (Liquor Licensing) determined on Monday 19 January to revoke the licenses of Lazo Minimarket, in Sunnyside Road, and Tame Convenince Store, Ashton Road.

Both applications to review the licenses were supported by both the council’s licensing service and Greater Manchester Police.

The panel heard that between April 2024 and October 2025 there had been multiple seizures of illicit tobacco and vapes from Lazo Minimarket.

This include seizures on 13 October 2025, when a joint enforcement visit was conducted at by the council’s trading standards and environmental health teams,  Greater Manchester Police, HM Revenue & Customs, Immigration Enforcement, and a Wagtails detection dog team.

During the visit they seized 1,558 cigarette packets, 61 hand‑rolling tobacco pouches, 201 e‑cigarettes, and 86 blunt cones (pre-shaped, ready-to-fill cones designed for smoking cannabis).

The council had conducted numerous test purchases at the store, including 11 Sept 2025 when the shop sold illicit cigarettes retrieved from a concealed area.

In July 2025 they seized counterfeit Labubu dolls and packaging from both inside the shop and an outbuilding. The dolls lacked safety warning and could pose choking and toxic hazards.

The panel heard that since 2024 the store had failed to comply with its premises licence conditions, however the premises was compliant with its licensing requirements at the last visit in December 2025.

With regards to Tame Convenience Store,  the panel heard there had been ongoing issues since October 2023, including intelligence received from the public and repeated successful test purchases.

Officers had carried out multiple inspections and given extensive advice and warnings but non‑compliance has persisted, despite changes in ownership and management.

Seizures of illegal goods had been made across several operations, including on 25 September 2025 when they seized a significant number of illicit cigarettes, vapes and Labubu dolls as part of Operation Avro, the multi-agency action, led by police, to tackle crime and issues of concern to the local community.

The panel also heard about a test purchase for illicit cigarettes on 11 September 2025, when the seller went through fire door and upstairs to retrieve hidden illegal stock.

There had also been consistent breaches of licence conditions, and this continued at recent visit in December 2025.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods Cllr Lauran Boyle said: “Investigating illegal activity and gathering sufficient evidence to take successful enforcement action is a painstaking process. These results, which will help protect local residents, reflect huge diligence from our teams and great partnership working with the police.

“The illegal tobacco trade causes real harm to our community – it supports crime rings, damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people. We work closely with businesses to support them to meet their public protection duties and ensure they are compliant but where they are found to be flouting the law and/or their licensing conditions, we will always take enforcement action.”