Police smash tobacco smuggling ring

Nine people were questioned today as part of a bid to smash a counterfeit cigarette smuggling operation from the Far East into the UK.

Customs and police officers arrested the men and women during searches in England and Northern Ireland.

The raids came after more than 23 million illegal cigarettes believed to be manufactured in China were seized earlier this year.

Tom Bishop, a Customs and Excise Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Our operation has been a tremendous success.

“We believe that we have dismantled a long-standing and sophisticated cigarette smuggling and distribution network.”

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland joined customs officers on raids at addresses in Birmingham, the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Bristol and the North.

Seven men and two women were quizzed on suspicion of being involved in smuggling and distribution, together with the laundering of the proceeds of crime.

It is understood at least one of those arrested was from Northern Ireland.

The tobacco was shipped in freight containers to ports in Southampton and Belfast, concealed within furniture consignments during July and August.

A total of 10 sea containers were intercepted, involving a duty evasion of about £4m (€5.7m) on the cigarettes.