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Three men, including two from Loughton, have been arrested over a suspected tobacco smuggling plot worth an estimated £2.4 million.
8.5 million cigarettes and 30kg of shisha tobacco were seized by HMRC officers, supported by Essex Police nad the National Crime Agency, as they were being unloaded at farmland in the Abridge area on Saturday, 20 August having arrived into the UK through the London Gateway Docks on ship from Dubai.
Martin Brown, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Tobacco crime undermines legitimate producers and retailers, costs the UK taxpayer around £2 billion a year in lost revenue and has a serious and detrimental impact on our communities. We encourage anyone with information about tobacco smuggling and fraud to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”
