A convenience store in Wolverhampton has been caught in possession of illegal cigarettes, tobacco, and Viagra-like drugs on several occasions. The store is to undergo a review of its premises license.
After several raids, Trading Standards bosses in Wolverhampton have called for a review in respect of Salvo’s Convenience in Parkfield Road, Ettingshall, England.
The city’s licensing bosses will discuss the review next week after the store was found to be selling suspected counterfeit tobacco products as well as a prescription drug advised for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) despite not being a registered pharmacy.
Dianne Slack, Tobacco Control Officer for Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards Service, said, “On February 25, 2020, following the receipt of information, Trading Standards Service organized a covert test purchase of illicit tobacco from the premises known as Salvo’s Convenience.”
“A packet of 20 Richmond cigarettes were sold to the purchaser for £4, believed to be counterfeit,” she added.
“On March 5, 2020, officers from the Trading Standards Service, West Midlands Police and a tobacco detection dog and his handler, visited Salvo’s Convenience, accompanied by police officers,” Slack said. “The cigarette gantry was open exposing tobacco products for sale, contrary to the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Regulations 2010.”
The tobacco control office continued, “Mr. Angelo Salvo, the owner of the business, premises license holder and designated premises supervisor subsequently turned up during the inspection.”
“Illegal tobacco products were discovered in the shop premises including suspected counterfeit Richmond cigarettes, duty-free LIFA menthol cigarettes and cheap white Richman cigarettes which are foreign brands brought into the UK illegally specifically to be sold on the black market.”
“English branded hand-rolling tobacco products such as Golden Virginia, that bore foreign warnings were seized because they breached UK regulations on packaging and/or labeling and were non-UK duty paid,” she added.
Slack revealed, “Seven Cildamax Sildenafil Citrate 100mg tablets, a pharmacy controlled drug used to treat erectile dysfunction were discovered behind the counter. In a van outside the shop, belonging to the manager, a further 1,160 packets of ‘duty-free only’ marked LIFA menthol cigarettes and 329 Cildamax Sildenafil Citrate 100mg tablets were discovered.”
In a statement, she said, “Pharmacy medicines such as Sildenafil Citrate may only be legally sold or supplied to the public through registered pharmacy premises, by or under the authorization of a pharmacist. Salvo’s Convenience has not been given the authorization to sell such medicines.”
“Angelo and the manager were both advised during the inspection that it was a criminal offense to possess, supply, or sell counterfeit products or illicit tobacco products.”
“On February 20, 2015, a formal written warning was issued to Salvo’s Convenience in respect of a previous seizure of illicit tobacco products that were found on the premises,” she added.
Amy Baker, the city council’s health improvement officer, said, “Public Health have very serious concerns regarding the significant amount of illicit tobacco and cigarettes seized on March 5, in addition to the controlled drug Sildenafil Citrate.” “With the confirmed test purchase, the seized tobacco/cigarettes and pharmacy controlled drug, Public Health is not reassured that the business is operating in adherence to the Licensing Act and therefore supports Trading Standards request to review the current license,” she added.
