A SOUTHAMPTON shop owner arrested on suspicion of dealing cocaine to youngsters from his shop has had his licence revoked.

Police arrested Vikram Amin last month after raiding the newsagents in the Bitterne Park Triangle and seizing a quantity of class A drugs.

The Daily Echo recently revealed that senior police officers had called for a review of his licence at the shop in Manor Farm Road.

Superintendent James Fulton had said in a report that the review of the licence for SNA Supermarket, which has traded as SNA Express and other names, was called as “in the opinion of a senior police officer the premises are associated with serious crime and serious disorder”.

A police report says that local officers had spotted drug paraphernalia including cannabis grinders and bongs on show, which were removed on advice from officers.

They then requested a warrant to search the shop and officers swooped at about 6.45pm on September 18.

A police report says that bags of powder were found sealed in deal bags in his trousers and under the counter of the shop.

He was arrested on suspicion of the possession and supply of class A drugs, namely cocaine, and has been bailed until December 15.

He was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods after a number of mobile phones and laptops were found The shop, which is not linked to the SNA Supermarket shop in Witts Hill, is currently undergoing a change of name.

Police had applied for the licence to be suspended in wake of the review, and it was subsequently then revoked by the city council's licensing and gambling sub-committee.

The city council's licensing manager John Burke said: “The Licensing (Licensing and Gambling) Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence for SNA Supermarket in Manor Farm Road, after considering an application by Hampshire Constabulary for summary review of the licence.

“As a result the business is no longer permitted to sell alcohol. The sub-committee also agreed that the interim steps that were put in place on October 1, 2015 – to suspend the licence and to remove the designated premises supervisor – should remain pending any appeal.”

Mr Amin declined to comment when approached by the Daily Echo after his arrest.