A NEWSAGENT has been arrested on suspicion of dealing cocaine to young people from his shop.

Vikram Amin is also being investigated over allegations of handling stolen goods, with mobile phones and laptops seized from his Southampton store, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Police seized class A drugs when they swooped on the shop in Bitterne Park Triangle in an early evening raid.

They are now calling for his licence to run the shop to be suspended pending a full review as “in the opinion of a senior police officer the premises are associated with serious crime and serious disorder”.

A report to Southampton City Council by Superintendent James Fulton says “the shop has been visited frequently over the past couple of months owing to information received that it is believed that youths are being supplied with drugs from this shop”.

It adds that police had spotted drug paraphernalia including cannabis grinders and bongs on show, which were removed on advice from officers.

But beat officers for the area requested a warrant to search the shop and swooped on the premises at 6.45pm on September 18.

The report says: “During the search a quantity of suspected cocaine was found in the possession of Mr Amin.

“Bags of powder were found in his trousers contained and sealed in deal bags. Drugs were also found under the counter at the point of sale allowing easy access for Vikram Amin to supply drugs while under the disguise of a responsible licence holder.”

Amin was then arrested on suspicion of possession and supply of class A drugs, namely cocaine, with the report continuing: “While being arrested Mr Amin made significant comments identifying the drug as cocaine.”

He gave a “no comment” interview before being bailed until December 15.

Police drug experts subsequently identified the drugs seized from the shops as cocaine and the amphetamine MDMA.

Superintendent Fulton continues the report by saying: “Other criminal offences identified during the warrant was for handling stolen goods; a number of mobile phones and laptops were found at the rear of the shop; Mr Amin was therefore arrested for handling stolen goods.

“These items were seized and through further investigation many have been found to be stolen.

“There is a criminal investigation which is still ongoing. This highlights that Mr Amin and SNA Supermarket (the shop) are involved heavily in different forms of criminal activity.”

It continues: “Mr Amin is quite clearly not operating the shop to a standard that is acceptable; the recovery of drugs and paraphernalia on the property and his person seriously undermines the licensing objective”.

Amin is now likely to face the city council’s licensing committee at a hearing on October 21, when he could have his licence suspended pending a further investigation.

One of the area’s ward councillors, Ivan White, said: “It’s a very serious charge and particularly with the young people that habitate the Triangle area, it’s very serious.

“I would supporting anything the police would to remove drugs from the city, as I know any councillor would.”

Amin declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Echo.