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Cigarette smugglers stopped by border force officers
04 November 2009
One and a half million cigarettes were seized in a single haul by UK Border Agency officers at King George Docks in Hull at the weekend.
The smuggling attempt was uncovered when officers carried out routine checks on an un-accompanied freight container, inbound from Rotterdam.
The cigarettes was could have cost the United Kingdom taxpayer an estimated £241,000 in potential lost revenues. Investigations are on-going and the cigarettes will now be destroyed.
Andy Lumb, for the UK Border Agency's Border Force welcomed the seizures, and said:
'This was an excellent detection by our officers, the cigarettes had been well hidden and professionally wrapped in an attempt to evade UK Border Agency controls.
'Cigarette smuggling is a serious crime and can help fund organised criminals. Smugglers who have no quarm over who they sell their illegal goods to or checks on the quality and ingredients in their goods.
'Those involved in cigarette smuggling UK Border Agency in partnership with HMRC, will not hesitate to take action against those involved in smuggling.'
The UK Border Agency plays a key role in the Government's overall strategy of tackling the illegal tobacco and drug trade by disrupting supply routes and detecting drugs at the border to prevent them entering the United Kingdom.