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Large amounts of tobacco seized at Poole ferry port
03 November 2009
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers are investigating an attempt to smuggle around 930 kg of hand-rolling tobacco (enough to make 1.8 million cigarettes) into Poole ferry port on Monday night (26 October). UK Border Agency officers uncovered the haul in an Iveco van disembarking a ferry from Santander, Spain.
The driver of the van, a Romanian man (33) who lives in Spain, was arrested at the scene and subsequently interviewed by HMRC investigators. He has been released on police bail until 25 February 2010. The case is being handled by HMRC criminal investigators and enquiries are ongoing. The revenue evaded is estimated at around £105,000.
HM Revenue & Customs are also investigating the seizure of around 450 kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 28,000 cigarettes from a people carrier at Poole ferry port on 3 October. A man (47) and woman (18) from Stockton-on-Tees, returning from Cherbourg, France, were arrested and have been released on bail until 4 January 2010. Investigations are ongoing. The revenue evaded in this case is around £56,000.
Bob Gaiger, HMRC spokesman in the South West, said:
'Regional ports like Poole should not be seen as a soft touch. The skills of UK Border Agency detection officers and HMRC investigators have prevented almost 1.4 tonnes of tobacco from being smuggled into the UK. Smugglers are motivated by profit and don't care about the impact their actions have on legitimate retailers. Anyone with information about illegal smuggling activities should call the Customs' hotline on 0800 59 5000.'