A SHOP which was used as a base for a criminal ring selling illegal cigarettes, netting hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been banned from selling tobacco and alcohol.

Earlier this year a group of men were convicted after an investigation by Newport council’s Trading Standards wing, alongside the police and HMRC, seized at least 747,148 illegal cigarettes and tens of thousands of pounds in cash.

And yesterday the council’s licensing sub-committee revoked the license of the shop used as the group’s base of operations - Eastern European Food in Commercial Road.

In January the shop’s owner Feryad Mohammed Abdul-Kadir was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence for his part in the smuggling operation.

And, in its notice revoking the licence, the sub-committee said Mr Abdul-Kadir had “failed to promote the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.”

The investigation which led to the convictions began in 2015, and found a chute under the floorboards in a flat above the shop hidden behind a fake wall, which lead directly into its stockroom.

A baby monitor was also used to communicate with colleagues in the shop who were selling the tobacco to customers.

The total value of all goods seized was estimated at £558,936.82 while tax evasion over the operation is said to have totalled £308,986.82, not counting sales of cigarettes from the premises.

Also sentenced as part of the operation were ringleader and owner of the building Tahar Mohammed, of Bristol, who was jailed for three years, as well as Richard Jendrejcak and Burham Karim, who worked at the shop.

Mr Abdul-Kadir is entitled to appeal against the decision.

Illegal trading can be reported anonymously to Newport City Council on 01633 235 233 or to HMRC on 0800 59 5000.