A shop faces license review for selling fake Lambert & Butler cigarettes and violating alcohol regulations.
The Hartlepool Council checked out Bellevue Booze. They got information about illegal cigarettes last September. Staff bought fake cigarettes during two visits in October.
The test shoppers got fake Lambert & Butler Silver cigarettes. They bought them both times from the same employee. Inspectors found strong drinks sold against the rules.
Hadi Azagh holds the store’s license. He told the council he was out of the country then. He also wasn’t sure who worked during those sales. Azagh said he lacked control of the shop back then.
He didn’t know who sold the fake tobacco either. He blamed the strong drink sales on a mistake. Azagh thought he misunderstood his license rules.
The shop also lacked a working till camera. The CCTV system wasn’t fully compliant, council said. The council warned Azagh about similar issues in 2023.
Officials got tips about fake cigarettes before. They did another test purchase that summer. Someone bought Lambert & Butler cigarettes in strange packaging then.
Inspectors found fake cigarettes in a bag, hidden in the store room. They also broke license rules by selling single, strong drinks. The staff removed those drinks from the shelves that day.
Azagh said he bought the fake cigarettes from a man. The man said they were fine to sell. He claimed duty-free was the source.