Four remanded over £1m duty evasion charge

The seizure of six million smuggled cigarettes during a Northern Ireland Customs and Excise crackdown has resulted in four men appearing in court.

A father and son and two brothers, have been charged with the fraudulent evasion of excise duty of around £1m (€1.46m) and two charges of harbouring goods with intent to defraud.

The charges follow the seizure of a consignment of six million duty free cigarettes from an abandoned warehouse at Ballynakilly, near Coalisland, Co Tyrone.

Customs officers and police uncovered the goods during a joint operation on January 27.

Customs said the Sovereign Classic cigarettes were believed to have originated in the Far East.

Brian McKeown, 45 and son Darren, 19, of Blackwatertown Road, Armagh, together with Jude Mackle, 38 of Cloverhill, Moy, Co Tyrone and brother Benedict 34, of Charlmont, Moy, were remanded on bail when they appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court.

They are due to appear again on May 19.