From: This is Grimsby
MORE than 50,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized from a lorry at Killingholme Port.
The illicit haul was concealed in a specially-adapted lorry that arrived in the UK by ferry from the Hook Of Holland.
The cigarettes were discovered by UK Border Force officers hidden inside hollow metal beams underneath the trailer’s load.
The lorry, which was carrying a load of cosmetics to Doncaster, was registered in Poland and had a Polish driver. The vehicle and the cigarettes have been seized, but no further action will be taken against the driver.
Sam Bullimore, of UK Border Force, said: “This was an excellent seizure, which came about as a direct result of the skill, expertise and technical knowledge of our officers. Our staff work constantly to keep our border secure, and to make life as tough as possible for smugglers.
“Cigarette smuggling is not a victimless crime. It defrauds the public purse out of huge sums of money at a time when the country can least afford it.
“The gangs behind this sort of criminality are also often involved in other serious organised crime.”
The seizure took place on Friday, September 7, and followed a number of drug seizures at neighbouring Immingham Docks.
As reported, an estimated £65 million worth of cocaine was seized by Border Force officials between June and the end of August from three vessels that had travelled from Colombia.
The drugs were discovered hidden in loads of coal being transported into the port from Puerto Prodeco.
And in a separate incident, another 10 kilos of cocaine were found concealed in a lorry on a ferry from Rotterdam.
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug or cigarette smuggling can call the smuggling hotline on 0800 595000.
