TWO DROYLSDEN stores have had their licences revoked after a ‘pattern of behaviour involving the premises relating to illicit goods.’
Lazo Minimarket, trading as Droylsden Off Licence on Sunnyside Road, was found to have repeatedly stocked illicit tobacco, e-cigarettes and counterfeit Labubu dolls that are not legally permitted to be sold in the UK.
And Tame Convenience Store, on Ashton Road, suffered a similar fate over similar breaches, plus others in a lengthy list.
After both Tameside Council and Greater Manchester Police found a ‘total disregard,’ the premises’ licences were removed on Monday, January 19.
The authority’s Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing) committee was told concerns have been raised about Lazo since April 2024 and Tame since October 2023.
At the former, a visit by trading standards officials and police saw hundreds of illicit e-cigarettes seized and two months later, cigarettes and tobacco was confiscated, both from the store and a car outside.
On July 22, 2025, trading standards officials received a consumer complaint regarding an alleged counterfeit and unsafe Labubu doll being sold.
A week later, dozens were taken in, along with hundreds of vapes from an outbuilding to the rear.
A report by James Horton, regulatory compliance officer at Tameside Council, added: “Inspections on 29 April, 2024, 13 June, 2024 and 26 June, 2024 identified repeated numerous breaches of licence conditions, including failures relating to CCTV operation and checks, staff training, sale refusals and incident records, authorised persons lists, purchasing records, Challenge 25 signage and the presence of illicit tobacco and vaping products.
“Despite follow-up visits and clear advice, these matters were not remedied.
“Further correspondence confirmed that alcohol was being sold without a valid Designated Premises Supervisor following a change of ownership. Subsequent visits on 30 July 2025 and 12 August 2025 found the premises still non-compliant, with ongoing failures in CCTV recording, staff training and record-keeping.
“This reflects a persistent failure to comply with the conditions of the premises licence and to uphold the licensing objectives.”
Licensing officer PC Craig Foley added about stock that was found: “This shows a total disregard, and I suspect that the stock that was seized would have been replenished within hours of the officers leaving the shop.”
As the panel revoked the licence, which is in the name of Fardin Khezri, Tameside Council officers cursed: “This seizure of e cigarettes shows the businesses blatant disregard of the regulations banning single use vapes even following the letter sent to the business by Tameside Trading Standards.
“The tobacco listed was seized as they were found to not have the required warning statements in English or be packaged in the required standardised packaging.”
Mr Khezri claimed he had no knowledge the goods were illegal after telling the panel he bought the business on October 3, 2025 for £20,000 in cash.
“I have completely changed how it is run,” he said. “Anything from the previous owners isn’t my responsibility.
“Since the licence has been under my name the shop has been operating legally and all the requirements are in place. These items were not mine.”
But licensing officer Michael Robinson countered: “Evidence displays long-standing criminal behaviour at the Lazo Minimarket.
“A significant amount of criminal behaviour has taken place since Mr Kherzi has been the licence holder.”
Tame’s licence, which was in Faraz Zaheri’s name, was also revoked after regulatory compliance officer Rebecca Birch told the panel: “Due to the illicit nature of the tobacco products seized, the source of supply to the business is unable to be verified and it is therefore reasonable to suspect that the products may have been manufactures specifically for the illegal market.
“Tame Convenience has shown a pattern over the years of non-compliance and disregard of the regulations relating to tobacco and e-cigarettes.
“This business has demonstrated a willingness to breach legal provisions for commercial gain.”