New Bedford Shop Owner Caught Selling Illegal Goods

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford police have charged the owner of a North End variety store with illegally selling alcohol and cigarettes without a license.

City resident Tomas Xirum, 46, the owner of Botas Vaqueras on Acushnet Avenue, is being charged with maintaining a nuisance business and illegal sale of flavored tobacco, according to police.

Police said detectives staked out the 1522 Acushnet Ave. variety store on Tuesday in response to complaints from community members.

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They allegedly saw a customer leave the store with Newport Menthol cigarettes, which are not allowed for sale in Massachusetts, according to police.

When police entered the store, they said they saw multiple boxes of the menthol cigarettes along with bottles of alcohol.

Cigarettes were being sold individually as well as by the box, and cans of beer and alcohol shots were also for sale, police said.

The establishment is not licensed to sell either liquor or tobacco products.

Police said the detectives seized a number of illegal goods from the store.