More than 19,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized from an international supermarket in Kingston.

Officers from Metropolitan Police and HM Revenue and Customs found the stash during an inspection of Express Supermarket, in London Road.

The officers also found the store to be selling beer with a higher strength than it was licensed to do so, despite already receiving an official warning.

The supermarket, which sells English, Turkish and Polish goods, will now have its licence reviewed at a hearing on Thursday.

In a report to Kingston Council’s licensing sub-committee, police also raised concerns about the management of the store.

The report said that although the licence holder is a man named Gokham Cakmac, the store appeared to be run by a different person, Ramazan Cakmak.

The report adds: “Police have concerns with both of these males and their character.

“The review of the premises licence has been requested to address the failure of management at the premises and the failure to ensure the licensing objectives are upheld.”

The application has received two representations from customers in support of the business,  both praising the store's cleanliness and diverse product range.

The cigarettes seizure in September came after another enforcement visit to the store in June, when customs officers found six bottles of Glen's vodka which had not had duty paid on them.

Kingston Council’s licensing sub-committee meeting is on Thursday, December 19 at 7.30pm.