West Bromwich wine shop licence suspended over drugs

A West Bromwich wine merchants has had its licence suspended after around £100,000 worth of drugs were seized at the premises during a police raid.

Officers swooped on Hill Top Wines and recovered 1kg of cocaine, 1kg of cannabis and pills and a large number of tablets believed to be ecstasy from the premises.

At a licensing review hearing held yesterday Sandwell Council chiefs decided to suspend the premises licence of Hill Top Wines, while further investigations take place.

Police raided the shop and the flat above after receiving calls from members of the community and executed the drugs warrant on Thursday, July 12.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

Chairman of Sandwell Council's licensing committee Councillor Peter Allen said: "We were asked to review the licence by the police following a raid.

"We only received the request this morning, and looked at it straight away.

"We were satisfied that the evidence presented to us by the police was sufficient for us to suspend the licence.

"A full licence review for the premises will take place on August 16."

Inspector Akeel Najib said the raid was carried out and involved seven officers and one sergeant and drugs were found in various parts of the property.

He said: "We were very pleased with the outcome of this raid, and we are pleased we could act on intelligence which passed on to us from the community."

All alcohol in the shop has now been removed from sale and display in the shop.

Trading Standards investigated the shop in both 2009 and 2011 for selling alcohol to those who are under-age.

By Naomi Dunning