Shop in Greater Manchester Town Shut Down for ‘Long-Standing Criminal Behaviour’

Key Points

• A shop named Lazo Minimarket on Sunnyside Road in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, has been shut down by Tameside council’s licensing panel for “long-standing criminal behaviour”.
• The licence holder, Fardin Khezri, sole director of Droylsden Off License Limited, was hauled before a panel of councillors on January 19, 2026, at Tameside One building.
• Authorities visited the premises five times since April 2024, seizing over 1,800 illegal cigarette packets during that period.
• The largest haul occurred on October 13, 2025, involving Trading Standards, Greater Manchester Police, environmental health, and other partners: 1,558 cigarette packets, 61 hand-rolling tobacco pouches, 201 e-cigarettes, and 86 blunt cones associated with cannabis use.
• Fardin Khezri purchased the business on October 3, 2025, for £20,000 in cash and claimed no knowledge of the illegal goods, asserting he had overhauled operations.
• A council regulatory compliance officer, James Horton, visited on December 16, 2025, and confirmed full compliance with licensing conditions at that time.
• Mr Khezri admitted working at the shop under previous ownership when illegal goods were sold but insisted he was unaware they were smuggled.
• PC Craig Foley of Greater Manchester Police described the seizures as showing “total disregard”, linking counterfeit trade to funding violent crime, vehicle crime, theft, and drug dealing.
• Licensing officer Mike Robinson stated evidence showed “long-standing criminal behaviour” even under Mr Khezri’s tenure.
• Mr Khezri called the licence revocation “completely unfair” as he had addressed all requirements.
• The panel, chaired by Coun Helen Bowden, revoked the licence, barring the sale of alcohol and age-restricted items.

Inverted Pyramid

Droylsden (Manchester Evening News) January 20, 2026 – Tameside council’s licensing panel has revoked the alcohol licence of Lazo Minimarket on Sunnyside Road in Droylsden following repeated seizures of illegal and counterfeit goods. The decision came after licence holder Fardin Khezri faced councillors on January 19 amid evidence of “long-standing criminal behaviour”. Authorities, including Greater Manchester Police and Trading Standards, raided the store multiple times, confiscating over 1,800 packets of illicit cigarettes since April 2024.

What Led to the Repeated Authority Visits?

The Sunnyside Road premises drew scrutiny with five visits from authorities since April 2024. As detailed in the panel hearing at Tameside One, these operations uncovered more than 1,800 illegal cigarette packets over the period. The most significant raid occurred on October 13, 2025, when Trading Standards, Greater Manchester Police, environmental health officers, and partners seized 1,558 cigarette packets, 61 hand-rolling tobacco pouches, 201 e-cigarettes, and 86 blunt cones linked to cannabis use. No specific journalist attribution beyond the Manchester Evening News coverage notes the scale of these hauls as unprecedented at the site.

Who Is Fardin Khezri and What Did He Claim?

Fardin Khezri, the current sole director of Droylsden Off License Limited, acquired the business on October 3, 2025, for £20,000 in cash. During the January 19 hearing, Mr Khezri told the panel: “I have completely changed how it is run. 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.” He admitted prior employment at the shop under previous ownership but maintained ignorance of the goods’ illegal smuggling status.

Was the Shop Compliant Before the Hearing?

A visit by council regulatory compliance officer James Horton on December 16, 2025, verified full compliance with all licensing conditions. Mr Khezri highlighted this inspection to argue his case, insisting he had rectified prior issues. Despite this, licensing officer Mike Robinson countered:

“Evidence today 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.”

What Did Greater Manchester Police Say About the Impact?

PC Craig Foley of Greater Manchester Police addressed the panel on the seizures’ implications. He stated: “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. Counterfeit crime is not victimless, and the money made from this lucrative business funds an array of sinister criminal activity. By decimating the counterfeit trade and systematically shutting down every shop, warehouse and storage unit involved, we will see a reduction in violent crime, vehicle crime and theft from people. Drug dealing will no longer be blatant, and the communities will feel safer.”

Why Did Mr Khezri Call the Decision Unfair?

Mr Khezri protested the outcome as “completely unfair”, emphasising his corrections to operational standards post-purchase. He positioned himself as uninvolved in prior illicit activities, focusing on his efforts to legitimise the store since taking over the licence.

Who Chaired the Panel and What Was the Final Decision?

Councillor Helen Bowden chaired the licensing panel, which deliberated on the “repeated non-compliance” evidence. Ultimately, the panel revoked the shop’s licence, stripping Lazo Minimarket of permissions to sell alcohol and other age-restricted products. This closure addresses the persistent issues tied to counterfeit tobacco and related goods.

Broader Context of Licensing Enforcement in Tameside?

The case underscores Tameside council’s firm stance on regulatory breaches. Panel discussions highlighted collaborative efforts among Trading Standards, Greater Manchester Police, and environmental health to curb illicit trade. No additional media reports beyond Manchester Evening News coverage emerged on this specific incident, but it aligns with regional drives against counterfeit goods funding wider crime.

Implications for Droylsden Community?

Residents in Droylsden may experience safer streets, as per PC Foley’s remarks on reduced crime links. The revocation prevents future sales of contraband, potentially deterring similar operations. Sunnyside Road’s Lazo Minimarket now operates without alcohol or age-restricted sales, impacting local commerce.