Mini-mart at centre of investigation closed down

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Mini-mart at centre of investigation closed downImage caption, The Cradley Market shop, in Sandwell, has been closed for three monthsByEd Thomas, UK editor, Ben Sidwell, at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court and Vanessa Pearce, West MidlandsPublished2 July 2026, 17:36 BSTUpdated 34 minutes agoA mini-mart in the West Midlands has been closed for three months after an undercover investigation exposed cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medicines being sold over the counter. Crystal meth and cannabis had also been seized last week from the Cradley Market store, on Cradley High Street in Sandwell, leading to one arrest. The force confirmed a 43-year-old man from Cradley Heath was charged with possession of Class A and Class B drugs.

He is due before magistrates, in August. There was no representation from the store at the Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court hearing earlier, brought by Sandwell Borough Council. It said the shop had been reported as a serious nuisance.

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The government is now looking at changing legislation, to allow authorities to close illegal mini-marts, barbers and vape shops for up to a year. Praising the 's reporting last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said people felt high streets were being taken over by "organised crime immigration criminality". The government was "not prepared to tolerate it", she said.

How the High Street became a window on our political instability Published8 JuneThe investigation, which lasted for more than a year, revealed shopfronts were being exploited by organised criminal gangs, pushing illegal drugs, say both the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Image caption, Shokat Lal, chief executive at Sandwell council, says he has been working with residents and other agencies to address the problemsFollowing the closure of the shop Shokat Lal, chief executive at Sandwell council said many complaints had been raised about incidents in Cradley Heath high street. "It's a problem we're trying to deal with at a local level.

We've been working with residents and other agencies to address the issue," he said. "We're really hoping will act as a deterrent to other people who are operating, selling counterfeit goods or other criminal activity - particularly the selling of drugs. "We hope people will realise that we won't tolerate illegal practices on our high street.

"The closure comes on the same day that the National Police Chiefs Council revealed 300 people had been arrested as part of a crackdown on illegal trade, announced in the wake of the investigation. Image caption, An undercover investigation exposed cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medicines being sold over the counter at the shopDuring the 's inquiries, researchers had been able to buy cocaine, as well as cannabis from the shop on two separate visits. They were also offered a selection of prescription drugs.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.