A Northampton supermarket could loses its alcohol licence after hundreds of packets of cigarettes and pouches of rolling tobacco were found hidden in a chicken coop at the back of the shop.

Northamptonshire Police has asked for the premises licence of O&K Supermarket in Kettering Road to be reviewed by West Northamptonshire Council following a raid on June 10.

During the visit, investigators working with WNC Trading Standards officers carried out a test purchase.

A packet of NZ Gold cigarettes was bought for £5, with the money being put into the till.

Northamptonshire Police has asked for the premises licence of O&K Supermarket in Kettering Road to be reviewed following an inspection on June 10.

placeholder image — Northamptonshire Police has asked for the premises licence of O&K Supermarket in Kettering Road to be reviewed following an inspection on June 10.

Officers returned later the same day and searched the premises.

A council report says they found 464 packets of cigarettes and 17 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco ‘at the rear of the premises hidden in a chicken coop’.

The council report says 77 packets of the cigarettes were alleged to be counterfeit.

A further 159 packets of cigarettes and all 17 pouches of rolling tobacco were described as non-duty paid, while 228 packets of ‘cheap whites’ were also found.

Hundreds of illegal tobacco products were found at the rear of the premises hidden in a chicken coop

The estimated value of the seized tobacco was put at £8,104.

The council says the products could not legally be sold or supplied in the UK because they did not comply with tobacco packaging regulations.

Some were also suspected of being counterfeit copies of legitimate products, carrying copies of registered trademark brands.

Northamptonshire Police said: “Illegal tobacco is sold at a price significantly lower than that of legal tobacco and deprives the UK of vital revenue which could be used to fund essential public services. The illegal tobacco trade damages legitimate businesses, undermines public health and facilitates the supply of tobacco to young people.”

The current premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor is named in the report as Baderkhan Mohammad Abdulrahman.

The shop is licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 6am and midnight, seven days a week.

The case is due to go before the council's alcohol and gambling licensing sub-committee on Tuesday, September 8.

Members have a number of options available to them, including changing the licence conditions, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months or revoking it altogether.

The sub-committee must make its decision within five working days of the hearing.