A shop has been banned from selling alcohol for three months after it was found to be in possession of illegal tobacco and 'crack pipes'.
Premier KVK Mini Market, then known as Town Centre News, located on the Boulevard in Crawley, was inspected by West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards in August 2025.
Officers discovered illegal and non-compliant tobacco, including chewing tobacco, some of which was concealed in bags near the till, and more that was found in a storeroom.
Tobacco for oral use has been banned across Europe since the 1990s because of its association with oral cancer.
Drug paraphernalia, including ‘crack pipes’, deal bags and cannabis grinders was also discovered, council documents said.
It was advised to take these items off the shelves as they could encourage drug users to visit the shop, which could then lead to a spike in antisocial behaviour.
Officers also found out of date food and tobacco products that were stored in a way that breached advertising laws.
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In addition to the licence suspension, Jayesh Limbachia was removed as the Designated Premises Supervisor, the person responsible for selling alcohol.
An application for the licence review said that Mr Limbachia had attempted to conceal the illegal products from officers when they arrived, suggesting he knew it was against the law to sell them.
The three month suspension is the maximum that can be imposed by the council and will run until February 13.
Councillor Duncan Crow, cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, said: "Once again, our Trading Standards team has successfully removed unsafe tobacco products from sale.
"These illegal products are rightly banned because of the health risks they present.
"The work our officers do is vital for protecting our residents and holding individuals and businesses accountable."
The business must now put in place the new licencing conditions and bring in a replacement for Mr Limbachia.
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