By George Lythgoe – Local Democracy Reporter
JUST months after purchasing an off-licence accused of having a history of selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes, the new shopkeeper has been refused permission to sell booze.
Sami Jafar bought Amsterdam Off-licence in Droylsden after doing a deal via Facebook Marketplace. He claims he was unaware that the Market Street site did not have a licence to sell alcohol or its history of dealings in illicit items when he bought the shop in February.
Under its previous name of Save More Off Licence, Greater Manchester Police and the licensing team said they conducted numerous raids which found illicit tobacco and illegal vapes over the last two years – which culminated in the premises licence being revoked in December 2023.
These incidents were said to take place under the ownership of Mr Reza Enayti, who Trading Standards officer Tracy Jones believes is still involved in the business despite the change of ownership to Harpack Molanpor and now Sami Jafar.
A licensing meeting was held on July 11 to decide whether Mr Jafar should be allowed to sell alcohol from the premises again – something the Tameside Council panel refused.
Since the new owner has come in, alcohol has been found in the shop on a number of occasions – something Mr Jafar has been warned about multiple times, the meeting heard. In response to this, the shopkeeper claimed he didn’t understand the letter issued to him in February saying he could not serve alcohol.
Once he was aware he said he put up signs saying alcohol could not be sold on the premises and alcohol was only in the shop when the ceiling of his backroom store had fallen in. He claimed that he had no room to store the alcohol at home or off the premises.
On March 13, licensing officer Sharon Campbell and officer Craig Foley attended the shop to ask why a can of gin and tonic was successfully bought during a test purchase from someone under the age of 18.
Following this, the meeting heard how Mr Jafar was called down to the store, as there was only the 17-year-old girl, who Mr Jafar said confused the gin and tonic with an energy drink, in attendance.
A statement written by PC Craig Foley on the interaction read: “A short time later Sami Changa Jafar stormed into the shop shouting, screaming, and flailing his arms around in an aggressive manner telling everyone to get out of the shop. I showed Sami Changa Jafar my warrant ID card, but he would not calm down.
“He was coming into my personal space, and I warned him several times. I was becoming concerned for Sharon Campbell who was in the shop due to Sami Changa Jafar’s unpredictable behaviour.
“I took hold of Sami’s arms and warned him if he did not calm down, he would be arrested for a breach of the peace. He did calm down after a short time but was still not listening to the advice he was being given.
“Two police officers then attended the shop on an emergency 999 call as Sami had called 999 stating that his shop was being robbed. I spoke to the attending police officers and Sami was warned about making false calls and wasting Police time.”
Since Mr Jafar has taken over the shop he has also been visited by police and licensing officers who found alcohol and illicit tobacco and vapes yet again, the licensing panel was told.
Licensing papers read to the room in Guardsman Tony Downes House revealed that Mr Jafar himself has also sold a police officer a 10ml illegal vape on April 25.
Documents also confirmed that a further visit by police and licensing on April 29 saw one packet of Marlboro, three packets of Lambert and Butler and one packet of Amber Leaf as well as 21 illegal vapes seized.
During this visit a man, described by attending officer PC Gregory Howard to the room as an immigrant from Iran who was supposed to be in Essex, ran out of the back of the shop. Mr Jafar claimed he had no clue who this man was in his shop.
Licensing manager Mike Robinson, referencing the statement heard in the meeting, said: “I’ve never seen such flagrant disrespect for licensing regulations and the panel should take notice of the evidence provided here today.”
Tracy Jones added that in all the dealing she’s had with the store since 2022, illicit tobacco and vapes have ‘frequently been found on the premises’. She told the panel that she believed the shop was “part of a wider group of businesses who wish to appear legitimate purely to sell illicit tobacco and illegal vapes”.
“This business continues to flout regulations and when they are questioned they just say (the items) are not theirs,” Ms Jones’ closing statement read. “I have tried to work with this business but I have been accused of being dishonest, disrespectful or racist.”
The licensing team at Tameside Council, GMP, public health and Trading Standards all requested that this premises licence application be refused.
In light of all the evidence provided to the panel made up of councillors, they decided to refuse the application.