A SOUTHAMPTON store raided for selling illegal cigarettes and alcohol is at the centre of fresh controversy after its new owner was told he couldn’t run it.

World Shop in Shirley Road was one of 12 stores raided by the officers from multiple agencies who seized 8,000 cigarettes and 500 litres of alcohol.

Now Kiumars Abdi has been told by civic bosses he won’t be allowed to be the licence holder of the shop when they heard that the manager who was in charge at the time is still working there.

He told Southampton City Council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee that he agreed to buy World Shop from his friend Sirwain Hussein on the day it was raided.

Mr Hussein admitted to the Daily Echo that he was in charge of the shop, also known as Odra Stores, when it was raided by police and that he would be handing over the store at the end of November.

He said he was helping Mr Abdi take up the running of the shop in the meantime.

Chairman of the sub-committee Cllr Matt Tucker said to Mr Abdi: “The issues that have come up all happened under Mr Hussein. The difficulty is that he’s still remaining a part of the business.

“Can you understand the concerns that the committee is having is that these activities may still be undertaken, that there isn’t sufficient distance between you and Mr Hussein?”

Representing Hampshire police PC Sharon Conway said it was of “grave concern” that Mr Hussein was still working at the shop.

She said: “Mr Abdi has mentioned he’s trying to improve things at the shop but ultimately he’s taken it over on a spur of the moment decision when the premises was under quite considerable scrutiny from the authorities.”

Mr Abdi said he would appeal the decision but admitted that the store was raided by police on September 24.