Two men jump from Leeds flat during raid that found illegal tobacco

Cash and illicit tobacco products have been seized from above a shop which has had its premises license revoked.

Police said two men jumped from the flat windows on the first floor during an inspection at Gusto Market in Harehills. When officers entered the apartment, illegal vapes and cigarettes were found, along with walkie talkies.

The shop, on Strathmore Drive, faced a license review after the visit on April 18, which also involved council and trading standards officers. Councilors revoked the license at a meeting on Monday (June 17).

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A police report said: “Officers entered the apartment and recovered a substantial quantity of illegal and illicit vapes and cigarettes from the apartment along with large amounts of cash. Evidence in the apartment showed that the goods were believed to be stored for Gusto and would be sold in Gusto.

“Walkie talkies were present in both the store and the apartment, suggesting levels of sophistication and organization to carry out this operation.”

The hearing was told that the sale of illicit alcohol and tobacco was widespread in Harehills. PC Neil Haywood said: “These items are dangerous. The origins are unknown.

“It addresses the poorest and most vulnerable in society. It’s at a price that kids can afford.”

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Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee heard the goods had been seized on previous visits when the shop was trading as Baba Jaga 2. After police requested a license review last October, a new company, Gusto Market Mini Ltd, was established to run the headquarters.

Police opposed the name change, their report said, but the board allowed the license transfer at a Dec. 5 meeting. Monday’s hearing was also told that bottled drinks shaped like guns and penises were on sale during the April visit.

Emilia Slezak, the council’s health improvement specialist, said: “This is not responsible retail. It glamorizes firearms and associates the product with violent behavior in an area with already high levels of alcohol-related violence.”