"Cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription pills are being offered for sale in mini-marts on UK High Streets, a BBC investigation can reveal. They were readily offered to our undercover researchers who secretly filmed in shops across four neighbouring West Midlands towns."
"Just a few miles away, in a town where we found illegal drugs being sold in shops, legitimate businesses told us they had been intimidated by gangs - and witnessed knife and gun violence."
"We can't restore our High Streets unless we take out the cancer of organised crime, says Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee."
"I've got weed, coke, everything. Whatever you want, I can sort you out, said a man behind the counter at a mini-mart in Cradley Heath."
An investigation revealed that mini-marts in the UK are selling illegal drugs, including cocaine and cannabis. Undercover researchers filmed drug sales in shops across the West Midlands. Local businesses reported intimidation from gangs and violence. The National Crime Agency and Chartered Trading Standards Institute noted that organized crime is exploiting shopfronts nationwide. Over 70 shops have been linked to drug sales. A Labour MP is urging government action to combat organized crime, while the Home Office and police are collaborating to address these issues.
Read at www.bbc.com
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