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Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Oxford Street sweet shop caught selling drug-infused confectionery
A sweet shop on Britain's busiest shopping strip has been caught selling drug-infused treats. The Londenro store, located on Oxford Street, was found to be selling desserts laced with illicit substances, including cookies containing psychedelic mushrooms. The discovery was made after Westminster Council launched a probe following a report that a shopper had been hit with an £899 bill for trying to buy two packs of sweets. The investigation revealed that the shop was stocking products like 'Magic Dragon' cookies — which, far from being innocent snacks, were found to include magic mushrooms. Boxes marked 'Game Over' were also seized. On April 25, officers carried out a raid at the shop. As they entered, two workers bolted to the basement and made their escape through a concealed exit hidden behind a wall panel. But when the panel was moved, authorities found a secret room holding counterfeit items worth an estimated £80,000. The shop's director, Ahmad Yar Jan, later told the court he had no issue with the confiscated products being destroyed. Meanwhile, a neighbouring store styled as a 'Harry Potter'-themed shop was also caught up in the operation. Authorities say it had been selling cannabis-derived items including Hashish and White Widow CBD, without the proper licensing. The store is operated by 5IVESTAR Limited, and an individual connected to it appeared in court with Yar Jan. Many of the seized products didn't include English-language labelling, raising serious safety concerns over unknown ingredients and potential allergens. Council leader Adam Hug didn't mince his words, saying: "It is rather ironic that a shop calling itself a Harry Potter store appears to have been selling products that claim they would get the user higher than a Quidditch player. "The food products here were part of a raid at two addresses on Oxford Street which have taken thousands of items worth £80,000 off the streets." He added: "One of these 'magic cookies' products was labelled game over – however the only game over will be for unscrupulous traders who sell illegal goods to the public. We have known for a long time that US candy stores rip off customers, but charging £900 for two packets of sweets is a new low, even for the unscrupulous people who run these rackets. "Our job is to protect people who visit the West End from being exploited and continuing raids and court appearances will ensure life is sour for the rogue US sweet shop trade."
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to parents over THOUSANDS of illegal drug-laced sweets including ‘magic mushroom cookies' flooding UK
The shop also contained a secret escape route in the basement CANDY DANGER Urgent warning to parents over THOUSANDS of illegal drug-laced sweets including 'magic mushroom cookies' flooding UK A SHOP on the busiest in the UK has been selling drug-laced sweets - including magic mushroom cookies. Police launched a raid on the shop was launched after a shopper was charged £899 for trying to purchase two packs of sweets. 4 A raid on a West End shop uncovered secret supplies of drugs disguised as sweets Credit: Central News 4 The store had labelled the mushrooms with vague names including Game Over and Magic Dragon Credit: Central News 4 CBD cookies were also seized from the Harry Potter shop next door Credit: Central News The Londonero shop on Oxford Street was selling a variety of drugs disguised as everyday desserts. Investigators from Westminster Council found the American-style candy shop had been selling Magic Dragon cookies - which actually contained magic mushrooms. There were three other boxes of cookies labelled Game Over. When the raid took place on April 25, two shop assistants fled downstairs and escaped using a secret exit. The secret passage was hidden behind a panel in the basement wall which took them back up to street level. However, by moving the panel, they revealed a room which contained £80,000 worth of fake goods. The director of the store, Ahmad Yar Jan, told a court that he was happy for the goods to be destroyed by the council. The Harry Potter shop next door was also found to be selling unlicensed Hashish and White Widow CBD products. An unnamed individual linked to the wizard-themed shop, ran by 5IVESTAR Limited, appeared in court alongside Yar Jan. Many of the products which were seized had no English translation on the box, which sparked allergy fears since their contents was unknown. Sneak peek inside new Oxford Street Ikea After the arrests, Labour leader of Westminster City Council, Adam Hug, said: ''It is rather ironic that a shop calling itself a Harry Potter store appears to have been selling products that claim they would get the user higher than a quidditch player. 'The food products here were part of a raid at two addresses on Oxford Street which have taken thousands of items worth £80,000 off the streets. 'One of these 'magic cookies' products was labelled game over – however the only game over will be for unscrupulous traders who sell illegal goods to the public." The news comes as Westminster Council has announced that reducing the huge number of sweets shops on Oxford Street is a priority. Adam Hug added: 'We have known for a long time that US candy stores rip off customers, but charging £900 for two packets of sweets is a new low, even for the unscrupulous people who run these rackets. 'Our job is to protect people who visit the West End from being exploited and continuing raids and court appearances will ensure life is sour for the rogue US sweet shop trade. 'Hopefully, the fall in the number of US candy and souvenir shops means the tide is going out on this tatty trade.'
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Urgent warning to parents over THOUSANDS of illegal drug-laced sweets including ‘magic mushroom cookies' flooding UK
A SHOP on the busiest in the UK has been selling drug-laced sweets - including magic mushroom cookies. 4 A raid on a West End shop uncovered secret supplies of drugs disguised as sweets Credit: Central News 4 The store had labelled the mushrooms with vague names including Game Over and Magic Dragon Credit: Central News 4 CBD cookies were also seized from the Harry Potter shop next door Credit: Central News The Londonero shop on Oxford Street was selling a variety of drugs disguised as everyday desserts. Investigators from Westminster Council found the American-style candy shop had been selling Magic Dragon cookies - which actually contained There were three other boxes of cookies labelled Game Over. When the raid took place on April 25, two shop assistants fled downstairs and escaped using a secret exit. Read More on Oxford Street The secret passage was hidden behind a panel in the basement wall which took them back up to street level. However, by moving the panel, they revealed a room which contained £80,000 worth of fake goods. The director of the store, Ahmad Yar Jan, told a court that he was happy for the goods to be destroyed by the council. The Most read in The Sun An unnamed individual linked to the wizard-themed shop, ran by 5IVESTAR Limited, appeared in court alongside Yar Jan. Many of the products which were seized had no English translation on the box, which sparked allergy fears since their contents was unknown. Sneak peek inside new Oxford Street Ikea After the arrests, Labour leader of Westminster City Council, Adam Hug, said: ''It is rather ironic that a shop calling itself a Harry Potter store appears to have been selling products that claim they would get the user higher than a quidditch player. 'The food products here were part of a raid at two addresses on Oxford Street which have taken thousands of items worth £80,000 off the streets. 'One of these 'magic cookies' products was labelled game over – however the only game over will be for unscrupulous traders who sell illegal goods to the public." The news comes as Adam Hug added: 'We have known for a long time that US candy stores rip off customers, but charging £900 for two packets of sweets is a new low, even for the unscrupulous people who run these rackets. 'Our job is to protect people who visit the 'Hopefully, the fall in the number of US candy and souvenir shops means the tide is going out on this tatty trade.' 4 Authorities have decided to destroy the products Credit: Central News
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Urgent warning to parents over THOUSANDS of illegal drug-laced sweets including ‘magic mushroom cookies' flooding UK
A SHOP on the busiest in the UK has been selling drug-laced sweets - including magic mushroom cookies. Police launched a raid on the shop was launched after a shopper was charged £899 for trying to purchase two packs of sweets. 4 4 The Londonero shop on Oxford Street was selling a variety of drugs disguised as everyday desserts. Investigators from Westminster Council found the American-style candy shop had been selling Magic Dragon cookies - which actually contained magic mushrooms. There were three other boxes of cookies labelled Game Over. When the raid took place on April 25, two shop assistants fled downstairs and escaped using a secret exit. The secret passage was hidden behind a panel in the basement wall which took them back up to street level. However, by moving the panel, they revealed a room which contained £80,000 worth of fake goods. The director of the store, Ahmad Yar Jan, told a court that he was happy for the goods to be destroyed by the council. The Harry Potter shop next door was also found to be selling unlicensed Hashish and White Widow CBD products. An unnamed individual linked to the wizard-themed shop, ran by 5IVESTAR Limited, appeared in court alongside Yar Jan. Many of the products which were seized had no English translation on the box, which sparked allergy fears since their contents was unknown. Sneak peek inside new Oxford Street Ikea After the arrests, Labour leader of Westminster City Council, Adam Hug, said: ''It is rather ironic that a shop calling itself a Harry Potter store appears to have been selling products that claim they would get the user higher than a quidditch player. 'The food products here were part of a raid at two addresses on Oxford Street which have taken thousands of items worth £80,000 off the streets. 'One of these 'magic cookies' products was labelled game over – however the only game over will be for unscrupulous traders who sell illegal goods to the public." The news comes as Westminster Council has announced that reducing the huge number of sweets shops on Oxford Street is a priority. Adam Hug added: 'We have known for a long time that US candy stores rip off customers, but charging £900 for two packets of sweets is a new low, even for the unscrupulous people who run these rackets. 'Our job is to protect people who visit the West End from being exploited and continuing raids and court appearances will ensure life is sour for the rogue US sweet shop trade. 'Hopefully, the fall in the number of US candy and souvenir shops means the tide is going out on this tatty trade.' 4
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Owner of listed £8.5million Mayfair townhouse ordered to destroy luxury basement housing gym, sauna and cinema room after it was built despite planning permission being refused
The owner of a listed £8.5million Mayfair townhouse dating back to the 18th Century has been ordered to destroy an illegal 'iceberg' basement. The extensive alterations house a gym, sauna and cinema room beneath the historic property, which was built in 1729 and is very close to Hyde Park. Westminster Council said the owner of the home, which was once owned by the 2nd Duke of Westminster, was denied planning permission for the basement but went ahead regardless. The application was originally refused in 2010, after planning officials agreed with the council that it would harm the building's 'special architectural and historic interest'. Council officials served a notice requiring the in-filling of the basement in February 2023. An appeal against the decision by the home's Italian owner was not successful. It means the 860 square foot space will have to be filled in with concrete and the rest of the property rewired and re-plumbed. The home has been Grade II listed since 1987. Historic England's record cites its 'rusticated stucco ground floor', sash windows and a wrought iron balcony on the first floor among its standout features. As well as the extension to the basement, officials found that the owner carried out unauthorised changes to all other floors. These included the removal of historic wood pannelling, fireplaces, joinery and cornices. They also installed air conditioning units without permission. The owner has a year to restore the property and fill the new basement in. It is thought the cost of the restorations will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Explaining their reasoning for issuing the initial enforcement notice in 2023, Westminster Council said: 'The creation of a sub-basement level beneath the Property, the alteration of the floor and ceiling levels/heights of the basement of the Property and the alteration to the ceiling heights at ground, first and second floor levels, have obscured and confused the traditional vertical hierarchy of the building. 'The scale of the excavation carried out and the proportions of the rooms created is not in keeping with the scale and character of the early eighteenth-century building, which is a rare surviving example of a small Mayfair town house.' They added that the works were not carried out 'sympathetically'. A survey in 1910 listed the home's owner as the Duke of Westminster, with the property being part of his enormous Grosvenor Estate. It was later the home of esteemed historian Sir Alistair Allan Horne. The extension beneath the property was extensive, but now it has to be filled in Other alterations to the property also have to be removed. Above: A label noting that two glass floor lights have to be taken out and the solid floor be reinstated Labour councillor Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council's cabinet member for for planning and economic development, said: 'I hope this outcome sends a clear message: those who ignore planning rules will be held accountable. 'It is simply not acceptable to carry out works that have been explicitly refused listed building consent. 'The owner showed a complete disregard for both our decision and the historic significance of this property. 'We remain committed to safeguarding Westminster's unique architectural heritage.' The extensive appeal put together on behalf of the owner by heritage consultancy Worlledge Associates argued that the changes to the home were necessary. They argued that historic buildings like the one in question 'exhibit evidence of change, remodelled and extended to meet the needs of contemporary society'. They added: 'What has taken place here, as elsewhere, is a new chapter in the evolution of these buildings – repurposed to meet 21st century needs. 'This ensures the viability of these historic buildings, keeping them in residential use.' The owner of the property was approached for comment.
