A regulatory committee in Mansfield is preparing to decide on measures regarding a corner shop suspected of distributing illegal cigarettes that allegedly resulted in a customer requiring hospital treatment. Officers from Nottinghamshire County Council’s trading standards division visited Leeming Lane Stores on Leeming Lane in Mansfield Woodhouse in January and uncovered roughly 4,900 contraband cigarettes. The probe began after someone who bought Winston cigarettes suffered serious breathing difficulties, according to paperwork compiled by Mansfield District Council’s licensing officer. On January 14, authorities found 244 packets each containing 20 cigarettes, amounting to 4,895 cigarettes, hidden under shelving near the till area. The licensing officer’s document notes that the positioning of these items showed knowledge of tobacco trading rules and recognition that such goods were prohibited. The confiscated stock included 39 packets of Winston, the brand the hospitalised person had smoked, alongside 8 packets of Top Gun, 36 packets of Manchester, 17 packets of Marlboro Touch, 63 packets of Marlboro Touch in different packaging, 42 packets of L&B Original Silver, and 39 packets of Esse. Testing confirmed some items as fake, while the 17 Marlboro Touch packets were genuine but manufactured solely for the Turkish market. Illegitimate cigarettes lack reduced ignition propensity strips required by European Union rules introduced in 2011 to decrease fire risks. Several seized products also displayed evidence of fungal growth, the document reveals. Officials seized five 0.25kg packages of tobacco valued at £150 together with cigarettes worth £3,660, making the total seizure value £3,810. Owner Masood Karimi told the council in written communication that during the inspection he had handed operational responsibilities to a member of staff because his father had died, his elderly mother was unwell, and his child had recently been born. The correspondence stated that he was extremely shocked to discover officers had found unlawful tobacco on the premises. He went to the shop immediately to examine the situation and spoke directly with the staff member. The staff member accepted blame and claimed he was attempting to increase takings during a slow period. He categorically opposed and would not accept any illegal behaviour. He was deeply remorseful this transpired under his proprietorship. He described it as humiliating and took complete responsibility as the business proprietor. He offered his sincere apologies and respectfully asked for leniency considering his difficult personal situation. Mansfield’s licensing subcommittee, made up of Labour councillors Michael Abbs, Alan Bell, and John Coxhead, will gather at 10am on Monday April 20 to determine whether to revoke the venue’s alcohol licence. Other potential rulings include taking no intervention, modifying licence conditions, deleting a particular item from the licence, dismissing the designated premises supervisor position, or imposing a temporary suspension.