Man selling drugs at High Street mini-mart confronted by BBC

An investigation by the BBC revealed that cocaine and cannabis were among the drugs on sale in mini markets on the High Street.

Undercover investigators secretly filmed in towns across the West Midlands, including a store called Cradley Market. There, one of these researchers met Akwa, who was working behind the counter.

It took only a few seconds for Akwa to supply him with 3.5 grams of cannabis for £30. “I’ve got weed, coke, everything. Whatever you want, I can handle you,” Akwa told the investigator, who then supplied him with cocaine.

Akwa denied any wrongdoing when the BBC’s UK Editor Ed Thomas later confronted him. When asked about the drug deal, he said he didn’t know what he was talking about before asking Ed and his crew to leave.

A Home Office spokesman said the government was working with the police, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Trading Standards to “take the strongest possible action against this criminal business”. West Midlands Police said it would always work with partners to “act on complaints about the sale of illegal drugs, anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder”.

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