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Undercover investigation exposes drug sales in West Midlands shops
Cocaine, cannabis, nitrous oxide and prescription pills are being sold in plain sight across mini-marts on UK high streets, a BBC undercover probe has revealed. Secret filming in four West Midlands towns showed shop workers readily offering Class A and B drugs to researchers.
Drugs offered within seconds
In Cradley Heath, a man behind the counter at Cradley Market sold cannabis to a BBC researcher twice in separate visits. When asked about cocaine, he made a phone call and arranged delivery of one gram for £95 within hours. The same seller also showed images of prescription drugs on his phone, including pregabalin, which has been linked to rising overdose deaths.
Confronted later, the man denied any wrongdoing and claimed not to understand the allegations before asking the BBC team to leave.
Gangs exploit shopfronts nationwide
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) say organised criminal networks are increasingly using retail premises to distribute illegal substances. A review of local reports found drugs, including heroin and crystal meth, seized from more than 70 shops across England and Northern Ireland.
In Dudley, Trading Standards lead Kuldeep Maan described the situation as the worst in 20 years, with shops selling cocaine, cannabis, nitrous oxide and counterfeit prescription drugs. Undercover footage showed spotters monitoring stores for police raids and staff following BBC researchers.
Laughing gas sold to children
Nitrous oxide, a Class C drug known as laughing gas, was repeatedly offered to BBC researchers. In Dudley town centre, a shopkeeper at Dawood Grocery directed a researcher to wait outside, where a hooded man delivered a canister in exchange for £25. Local business owners reported seeing children buying and inhaling the gas from the same premises.
Dawood Grocery denied all allegations. Another shop in Brierley Hill, IK Convenience, sold cannabis vapes for £20 each without comment when approached by the BBC.
Violence and intimidation
Legitimate businesses in the area described escalating threats from criminal gangs. Hair salon owner Diane Shawe said her windows had been smashed four times in night-time attacks, with CCTV capturing men in hoodies hurling bricks. She claimed two men later entered her shop and pressured her to sell the premises for a barber shop.
Romanian shopkeeper Marius Boros, who has operated in Dudley for 13 years, said he regularly witnessed fights, knife attacks and gun violence outside his store. He blamed mini-marts selling illegal goods for destroying his business, saying he was close to bankruptcy.
Calls for urgent government action
Liam Byrne, Labour MP and chair of the Business and Trade Committee, described the findings as "horrifying" and called for zero-tolerance enforcement. "We can't restore our high streets unless we take out the cancer of organised crime," he said.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government was working with police and the NCA to "take the strongest possible action" against criminal businesses. West Midlands Police stated they would act on complaints about drug sales and anti-social behaviour.
Dudley Council reported closing 42 shops under its Operation Clearance campaign since August 2024. However, Trading Standards officers said criminals often reopen nearby after temporary closures. The CTSI has urged longer closure orders of 12 months, with permanent bans for repeat offenders.
Local authorities respond
Sandwell Council, which covers Cradley Heath, said it was collaborating with police to tackle illegal activity. Dudley Council's director for development and regulation, Michael Brereton, said the authority had delivered "some of the strongest enforcement outcomes in the country" but acknowledged the challenges of permanent closures.
"People are scared to come here. There are a lot of fights, knives, guns."
Marius Boros, Dudley shopkeeper
