Millions of fake cigarettes seized

4:41pm Thursday 3rd August 2006

MORE than two-and-a-half million counterfeit and illegally imported cigarettes were seized by customs officers in the North-west over a 24-hour period.

They swooped on an industrial unit in Lancashire, seizing 2.5 million non-UK duty paid cigarettes and also stopped 34 passengers carrying 157,410 cigarettes through Manchester and Liverpool airports.

HM Revenue and Customs officials said the seizures, which took place between July 27 and 28, offer a snapshot of the ongoing work to tackle tobacco fraud.

Linda Paul, head of detection in the North-west, said they were determined to stop people bringing tobacco illegally into the country.

She said their actions were responsible for undercutting small businesses, undermining efforts to reduce smoking and depriving the Exchequer of valuable tax revenue. During the 24-hour period, customs officers seized cigarettes being posted to UK addresses and found other consignments hidden in freight containers.

"This illegal activity should be condemned by the public," said Mrs Paul.

"Cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting is an organised crime, as these routine seizures demonstrate, often linked to money laundering and drugs."