From: Isle of Wight Radio
An investigation has been launched after 30 million smuggled cigarettes were seized at Southampton Container Port in a shipment supposed to be full of wind turbines.
The biggest ever haul of its type in the city began when Border Force officers discovered 8.5 million cigarettes crammed inside a cargo container on Friday 1 March. Further investigations led officers to another two 40-foot containers full of the illegal imports, bringing the total seized to around 30.3 million cigarettes.
The matter was referred to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for investigation.
John Cooper, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said: “The diligence of Border Force officers has prevented a huge quantity of cigarettes, believed to be Chinese counterfeits, from reaching the UK’s streets. The sheer scale of this haul would undoubtedly have seen criminal gangs selling the tobacco to retailers, clubs, car boot sales and eventually UKconsumers.
“HMRC will continue to work with Border Force to crackdown on tobacco fraud, which costs the UK Government around £1.8 billion a year. Anyone with information about tobacco smuggling should contact the Customs’ Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”
The smugglers were trying to avoid paying over £8 million in taxes and duty and had described the containers’ contents as “wind turbine parts” on import documents.
The three cigarette laden containers were loaded onto a cargo vessel in the Shenzhen area of China. Enquiries are ongoing.
