A BBC undercover investigation has revealed that illegal drugs including cocaine, cannabis, nitrous oxide and prescription medication are being openly offered for sale in mini-marts across UK High Streets.
The investigation, led by BBC journalists Ed Thomas, Patrick Clahane and Rebecca Wearn, involved secret filming in shops across four neighbouring towns in the West Midlands.
The findings form part of a wider BBC inquiry into organised crime on British High Streets.
According to the BBC, undercover researchers were able to purchase drugs quickly and with little resistance. In one case, at a shop in Cradley Heath, a man behind the counter told a researcher:
“I’ve got weed, coke, everything. Whatever you want, I can sort you out.”
The researcher was subsequently sold 3.5 grams of cannabis for £30, and later a gram of cocaine for £95 after it was delivered to the premises.
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The BBC reported that prescription drugs, including pregabalin, were also offered for sale via images shown on a mobile phone. Pregabalin is a controlled medication used to treat anxiety and epilepsy, and its misuse has been linked to rising death rates.
A law enforcement source, speaking anonymously to the BBC, described one High Street visited during the investigation as “lawless”.
The broadcaster stated that such activity is not limited to one area. Analysis of local reports across the UK identified more than 70 shops or linked premises, from Devon to Norfolk to Northern Ireland, where drugs including heroin and crystal meth had been discovered.
Both the National Crime Agency and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute told the BBC that organised criminal gangs are exploiting shopfronts to distribute illegal substances.
In Dudley, Trading Standards officer Kuldeep Maan told the BBC the situation is the worst it has been in 20 years, with illegal drugs, counterfeit cigarettes and illicit vapes widely available. The investigation also observed suspected “spotters” outside shops, believed to be monitoring for enforcement activity.
A former West Midlands police officer, who asked not to be named, said the issues highlighted by the BBC reflect a growing lack of enforcement.
“Crime is rife, there are no deterrents. These people think they can get away with anything. Law and order is going out the window.”
Further undercover filming in Lye and Brierley Hill showed shop workers offering cannabis, cannabis vapes and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is legal for certain commercial uses but illegal to supply for recreational inhalation.
The BBC reported that in some cases, transactions were conducted indirectly. At one Dudley shop, a researcher paid £25 and was instructed to wait outside, where a separate individual later delivered a nitrous oxide canister.
Local businesses told the BBC they were being affected by the criminal activity. One shop owner said:
“People are scared to come here, there are a lot of fights, knives, guns.”
Another business owner reported repeated vandalism and intimidation, claiming individuals had attempted to force her to sell her premises.
The BBC also reported that enforcement efforts face challenges. Shops can currently be closed for up to three months under existing legislation, but authorities say this is often insufficient, as some businesses reopen or relocate nearby.
John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, told the BBC his organisation is calling for stronger powers, including longer closure periods and permanent shutdowns for repeat offenders.
Reacting to the findings, Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, said:
“The scale of it is horrifying and the ease of it is just terrifying.”
He urged the government to adopt a “zero tolerance approach” to organised crime on High Streets.
In response, the UK Home Office said it is working with police and enforcement agencies to “take the strongest possible action against these criminal businesses.” West Midlands Police said it would continue to act on complaints relating to drug sales and associated crime.
The BBC stated that its investigation is ongoing and forms part of a broader examination of criminal networks operating within everyday retail environments.
Source: BBC
