Cocaine, cannabis, nitrous oxide and prescription medication are being openly offered for sale in convenience stores on high streets in parts of England’s West Midlands, an undercover investigation has found. Secret filming carried out by the BBC revealed that illegal drugs were readily available in several mini-marts across four neighbouring towns. Researchers were able to purchase substances including cannabis and nitrous oxide, while cocaine could be arranged and delivered to the shops.
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Authorities say the findings highlight how organised criminal groups are increasingly using legitimate retail premises to distribute illegal goods.
Undercover purchases in local shops
In Cradley Heath, a shop worker at a mini-mart told an undercover researcher he could supply drugs immediately. During a visit, the researcher was taken to the back of the store and sold 3.5 grams of cannabis for £30.
On a later visit, the same worker arranged for a gram of cocaine to be delivered to the shop, which he then sold for £95.
During the encounter, the worker also displayed photographs of prescription medicines available for sale, including pregabalin — a drug prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety. Misuse of the medication has been linked to a rise in deaths in recent years.
When confronted afterwards about the allegations, the shop worker denied any involvement in selling drugs.
The investigation forms part of a broader review of criminal activity on high streets across the UK. An analysis of dozens of local news reports identified more than 70 shops or related premises where drugs — including heroin and crystal meth — had been discovered.
Officials from the National Crime Agency and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute say organised crime networks are increasingly exploiting retail shops as a base for illegal trading.
Concerns across Dudley borough
A few miles away in the borough of Dudley, enforcement officers say similar activity has spread along several high streets.
Kuldeep Maan, a local trading standards lead, said the sale of illegal drugs alongside counterfeit cigarettes and unregulated vape products is the worst he has seen in two decades.
During visits to shops in the towns of Lye and Brierley Hill, undercover filming captured staff offering cannabis, cannabis vape products and nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide — often called laughing gas — has legitimate uses in industries such as catering, but supplying or possessing it for recreational inhalation is illegal. Inhaling the gas can cause serious health problems, including potential brain damage.
At one grocery store in Dudley town centre, a researcher asking for laughing gas was instructed to wait outside. Minutes later, a hooded man arrived, accepted £25 in cash and handed over a canister of nitrous oxide.
The shop later denied the allegations.
Local traders say the activity is damaging businesses and making the area feel unsafe. One shop owner described frequent fights and violent incidents on the high street, while another said her premises had been repeatedly targeted by vandals in what she believes is an attempt to force her out.
Calls for stronger action
Reacting to the findings, Liam Byrne, chair of the UK Parliament’s Business and Trade Committee, said the scale and ease of illegal drug sales were deeply concerning.
He called for tougher laws and greater enforcement to prevent organised crime groups operating through legitimate storefronts.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said the government was working with police, the National Crime Agency and trading standards authorities to tackle criminal businesses.
Meanwhile, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute has called for stronger powers to close offending shops. At present, premises can often only be shut for up to three months under anti-social behaviour legislation.
Local authorities say enforcement operations are ongoing. Dudley Council said 42 shops have been closed since launching its Operation Clearance campaign in 2024, although officials say some offenders simply reopen nearby.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 April 2026
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