The scale and repetition of the lawbreaking at a Swindon shop catering to Polish people was such that it amounted to “serious and organised crime” according to one member of Wiltshire Police.

John Barker, the county force’s licensing officer for Swindon told member of Swindon Borough Council’s licensing committee that the license holder for Polomarket, a Polish supermarket in Commercial Road, was continuously replenishing the shop’s stock of counterfeit and illegal cigarettes despite hundreds and thousands of them being confiscated by police and trading standards officers.

He was speaking at the hearing which was to decide whether to revoke, suspend or leave in place the licence to sell alcohol at the shop held by Saman Sabouri, who lives in Old Town.

Mr Sabouri did not attend the hearing, although he did attend the hearing at Swindon magistrates’ Court 10 days ago where a closure order applied for by the council’s trading standards team was imposed by the court.

Mr Barker described a number of visits to the shop and also the communal area of the flats built above it, where there was a padlocked fridge freezer which was not plugged in. He said members of the store’s staff were observed at least twice opening the fridge freezer and removing cigarettes and tobacco.

He also described a visit to the shop where a store of cigarettes was found behind shelving.

He added that officers including himself visited and searched Mr Sabouri’s address and said: “There were thousands of cigarettes there worth about £300,000, the bulk of them very similar to those seized from Polomarket.”

Mr Barker said there was also thousands of pounds of cash in the flats, which was seized along with the cigarettes, as being the proceeds of crime. When Mr Sabouri returned to the flat, he was arrested.

Mr Barker said: ”There were six incidents in the last year. It is highly likely this is part of serious and organised crime.

“Despite all warnings there was a flagrant and undiminished disregard for the law.”

PC Paul Bezzant told the councillors that it was believed the main supply of the cigarettes and tobacco may be linked to businesses in the Manchester Road area of town and there was an active investigation into money laundering by Mr Sabouri in relation to the shop’s activities.”

The licence they held is to sell alcohol, but police and trading standards officers said there had been no complaints of selling drink to children.

The members of the panel decided to revoke the licence.

Chairman Vinay Manro said: “The panel heard evidence presented by Swindon Police and Swindon Trading Standards following a closure notice which was issued by magistrates earlier this month.

“As councillors hearing the evidence we have to ensure licensed premises adhere to the licensing condition of prevention of crime and disorder. The closure notice which was issued against this premises earlier this month shows the seriousness of the offences taking place.

“The panel has revoked the premises license, and the closure notice remains in place so Polomarket will not be able to re-open until January and from there will need to apply for a new premises license.

“I urge everyone to avoid these Illicit and Counterfeit cigarettes as they present significant health risks. Poorly manufactured counterfeits contain higher levels of toxic components such as tar, nicotine and even lead. The cheap ingredients used in the manufacturing processes cause them to produce more carbon-monoxide and tar when burned.

Fake cigarettes can contain up to five times the levels of cancer-causing chemicals. Some have been found to contain asbestos, mould, dust, dead flies, and even rat droppings.”