From: Kent Online
by Graham Tutthill
A 50-year-old Polish lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling 1.8 million cigarettes into Dover via Calais.
The cigarettes were discovered hidden in a cargo of general freight in a lorry trailer unit by Border Force officers at the port on Friday morning and the man was arrested.
The case was referred to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) criminal investigators who interviewed the suspect on Friday afternoon. The loss of revenue was estimated at £429,000.
HMRC spokesman, Bob Gaiger, said: “We take cigarette smuggling seriously and will continue to work closely with our Border Force colleagues to combat tobacco crime, which costs the UK economy around £1.8 billion a year. People with information about smuggling and duty evasion can contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”
Investigations are ongoing and the man has been released on bail until November 29.
