Birmingham man arrested for smuggling 99 million cigarettes into Britain

A man from Birmingham has been arrested and interviewed under caution after a sniffer dog has rumbled crooks trying to smuggle 99 million cigarettes into the UK.

The cigarettes, found in eight containers, are the largest single seizure of illegal cigarettes at a UK port ever and were worth about £44m in unpaid taxes, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said.

They were found at the port of Hull, East Yorkshire, and were said to have been shipped through the United Arab Emirates, import papers suggested. The import documents had described the containers as carrying birchwood logs, but a Border Force sniffer dog uncovered the haul of illegal tobacco.

The Birmingham suspect was interviewed under caution, with investigations ongoing, the HMRC added. Their officers also arrested a 57-year-old man from South Wales in July in connection with the seizure. He has been released on bail.

Anthony Usher, deputy director of HMRC’s fraud investigation service, said: “This is the single largest seizure of cigarettes ever made at a UK port. Our streets would have been flooded with them had they not been discovered.

“We are determined to stamp out tobacco fraud by working closely with partners in the UK and internationally to bring those responsible to justice.

“Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that causes real harm to our communities, such as drugs, guns and human trafficking.”

Irene Hall from Border Force’s northern region said: “Illicit cigarettes are dangerous, harmful and fund organised criminal gangs. The officers involved can be proud that this huge interception has stopped illicit cigarettes from entering our communities.”

The discovery of the drugs in June was only revealed today (Friday, October 7).

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