Kirkgate store ‘linked to serious organised crime’ loses licence

The discovery was made at Kubus International Food Store, on Kirkgate, during a day of action by police and trading standards officers.

A licensing review hearing was told that there was evidence the store has links to serious organised criminals.

PC Toby Warden, a West Yorkshire Police licensing officer, said a tobacco detection dog was used during an operation at the store on December 4 last year.

Counterfeit and smuggled tobacco was found hidden in the ceiling.PC Warden said there was a history of illegal activity and non-compliance issues at the shop dating back six years.

The store’s licence was revoked in 2018 when it was under different ownership.

The officer said attempts had been made to help the current licence holder, Kardo Abu Baker, comply with licensing regulations.

But staff training schedules and other important documents had not been kept up to date, councillors were told.

While officers were at the store, a member of staff was seen serving a single can of cider to a customer in breach of the store’s licensing conditions.

Paul Dean, a licensing enforcement officer for Wakefield Council, said the worker appeared “blissfully unaware” of licensing rules.

Mr Abu Baker did not attend the hearing at Wakefield Town Hall.

Mr Dean said the shop had been put up for sale since police and council officers called for the review hearing, adding: “That shows how much he is interested.

“Evidence suggests that it doesn’t matter who owns this store, the same problems keep coming back.”

Public health officer Chris Wathen also called for the review hearing.

He told the meeting how the sale of illegal vapes was having an impact on the health of young people in the district in particular.