A STORE at the centre of the biggest seizure of illegal tobacco in Dudley wants to be able to sell alcohol again.

The request by European Food Express will be decided by Dudley Council’s licensing sub committee which originally withdrew the shop’s license in 2016.

It is the second time the High Street store has applied for reinstatement after a first attempt was refused by councillors.

The shop’s license was revoked after Trading Standards officers visited the the shop during August 2016 and seized nearly 40,000 cigarettes and 58 packets of tobacco.

Officers reported at the time it was the largest seizure in Dudley for five years and the loss in tax revenue amounted to £10,707.

They found cigarettes and tobacco hidden in a freezer, a filing cabinet and under a meat counter.

Following the seizure, officers said the shop continued its illegal sales.

Months earlier, the store’s owners had been cautioned for selling counterfeit cigarettes at another shop they owned.

In November 2016 the store’s alcohol licence was revoked for a failure to abide by strict requirements covering the prevention of crime and disorder.

A submission to have the licence reinstated in 2017 was rejected when the store’s owner failed to attend a licencing meeting.

Councillors will now meet tomorrow (Tuesday, July 24) to decide if the latest application will be granted.